Once Mac had healed as much as he could, they were all sent back home to a very happy Bozer, and given some time off work.

Mac still had to be careful about his bullet wound, and he'd be hiding it from Bozer for a while, but he was just glad to see his friends smiling face again.

Jack held their bags as Riley and Mac walked into the house, hearing Bozer coming a mile away.

"You're home! You're all here! God, I missed you guys. Come here."

Bozer pulled Mac into his embrace, not seeing the way the others tensed in worry at the thought of Bozer squeezing too hard. Mac bit down any noise of pain and instead hugged his friend back, genuinely glad to be in his best friends embrace again.

"We missed you too, Boze."

He was released, and Riley was pulled into a hug before Jack got the same treatment, and everyone was all smiles as they found the couch.

Bozer was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Okay, so you guys got time off work because of the extra-long project sooo…I got heaps of movies to watch and I made everyone's favourite for lunch. I also have some healing lemon and ginger tea for Mac since you still got that cold thing or whatever. Maybe you should have a nap too, you look worn out."

Mac smiled and accepted Bozer's mother-henning as he was given blankets and the promised tea. He couldn't be mad or even annoyed, since he was still hiding the truth from him. He hated lying to him, but he didn't want to spoil that big smile that Bozer had.

Riley helped pull the blanket around him, knowing that the excessive movement would not be good for Mac, and gave him a sympathetic look as Bozer came back in with the tea.

"Okay, drink this and then there's some chicken soup later if you want it. Do you have fever? Jack, does he have a fever?"

He placed a hand on his friend's forehead as Mac sighed.

"No, Mom, I don't have a fever. But thank you for the tea. I'm fine."

Bozer stood and placed his hands on his hips as he barrowed his eyes at the blonde.

"I could do without the sass but you're welcome. And don't think I'm gonna let you do any work this week either, you've had enough of that for a while."

Jack nodded, giving Mac a pointed look. "Yeah, I've definitely had enough of that for a while. You take good care of him, Boze."

"You know I will."

True to his word, Bozer kept a close eye on his friend, as did Jack and Riley, since they were the only ones that actually knew what was wrong with the young agent. So, when Mac tried to go for a run or fix his motorbike, it was usually three pairs of hands that pulled him back to bed or the couch and insisted he take it easy.

"It's just one little run!"

Jack was pushing him back inside, having caught him trying to leave the house, as he was coming to check on him.

"Might I remind you how close you came to never running again? Go back inside before I tell Bozer you passed out or threw up."

Mac's eyes grew wide at how much worse the mother-henning would get if Bozer was told anything near that.

"You wouldn't."

Jack nodded and took Mac's shoulders, steering the man back inside.

"Oh, yes I will, mister. Now, go and take your meds and make sure that bandage is clean. I'm going to find Bozer and make you some breakfast."

It was a little frustrating to be so closely watched, with someone always making sure he was okay. But he knew why they did it, and he knew why he didn't mind as much as he should either.

He had lost most of his family at a young age, and now that he had a new one, he was happy to be smothered in the love they constantly gave him. One day, Bozer would know about what he really did, and there would be hell to pay for the lies he told, and the secrets he kept. But until then, he would take the chicken soups and the worried looks, because he knew he was simply lucky to be alive to appreciate it.

He really loved his family, and if he was mother-henned to death, at least he knew they loved him too.