The sanctuary land was quiet in the way only unfinished places were.
Solar fencing hummed softly along the perimeter. Temporary rehab pens stood ready, empty for now. MJ scanned the tree line out of habit as he lifted his phone and made the call.
It rang once.
"MacGyver," Mac answered.
"You still answer like you're expecting trouble," MJ said.
"Trouble usually calls back," Mac replied. "MJ?"
"I'm back in town," MJ said. "And I need your help."
There was a pause.
Then relief.
"…Say when."
The Phoenix Foundation
Mac stepped into the bullpen, phone still in hand.
"He's back," he said.
Bozer looked up instantly. "No way."
Jack Dalton turned from the fridge. "Who's back?"
"M.J. Baxter," Mac replied.
Jack frowned. "That name doesn't ring a bell."
Maddie Webber paused mid-step. "It does for me."
She turned and walked back into her office without another word.
Riley spun her chair. "That's never a good sign."
Maddie's Office
Maddie's fingers flew across the keyboard.
MJ Baxter.
Nothing.
Broader search.
International.
Still nothing.
Then—a redacted file.
CIA archives. Pacific operations. Australia. Southeast Asia.
Codename repeated across every report:
THE SHADOW
No name.
No image.
Only results.
Maddie leaned back slowly.
"…Well," she murmured, "that explains a lot."
The Sanctuary – Later
Mac, Bozer, Riley, Jack, and Maddie arrived together. Tools came out. Tablets lit up. Cables unspooled.
MJ greeted Mac with a nod—no handshake, no hug.
"Good to see you alive," Mac said.
"Overrated," MJ replied. "But useful."
Vanessa arrived with Mike, Eve, Kristin, and Mandy in tow.
Vanessa stopped when she saw Mac and Bozer.
"Well," she said brightly, "there's the two troublemakers."
Bozer froze.
Mac winced.
Vanessa pointed at Mac. "Blown anything up lately? Last time you were here, you blew up my coffee maker."
"I was seven," Mac said carefully.
"And unsupervised," Vanessa replied.
Mike grunted. "I liked that coffee maker."
Kristin squinted. "Wait—I know you."
Bozer smiled. "Science fair. Solar oven."
Kristin laughed. "You're the reason I passed."
Mandy eyed Mac. "You taught me how to pick locks."
"Educational," Mac said quickly.
Eve crossed her arms. "You're Mac. MJ disappeared with you all the time."
Mac smiled. "You got taller."
Introductions
Mac gathered everyone.
"This is my team."
Riley nodded to MJ. "You're not what I expected."
"Likewise," MJ replied.
Jack stepped forward, studying him.
"Shadow."
The air shifted.
MJ smiled calmly. "Call me MJ. Or Michael. Or Mike. Whatever you prefer."
Jack nodded. "Good to see you breathing, Mike."
MJ shook his hand. "You too."
The Meeting Room
Blueprints covered the table.
"I want layered security," MJ said. "No single point of failure. Quiet alerts. Animal-first protocols."
Maddie watched him carefully.
Then—without warning—she threw a knife.
The world slowed.
The knife rotated.
The hum dropped.
Time stretched.
MJ's hand moved.
He caught it cleanly, two fingers and a thumb, inches from his chest.
Silence.
Jack whistled. "Okay. That was impressive."
MJ handed the knife back. "Meeting rooms usually discourage that."
Maddie nodded once. "Rumors confirmed."
Halloween
MJ walked into the Baxter house shirtless.
Black trousers. Long coat. Retractable fangs.
Vanessa gasped. "Absolutely not."
Mike nodded approvingly. "That's commitment."
MJ lifted a blood bag. "Grape juice."
Mandy stared. "Why does he get to dress like that and I can't?"
Mike folded his arms. "Because you want to wear swimwear with glitter."
MJ smirked. "Sexy Dracula."
Vanessa sighed. "I need wine."
The Backyard – Later
The grill sizzled. Firelight flickered.
Ryan sat beside Mike, his first full week with Boyd underway.
"I don't trust vegetarians," Mike said. "Vegans admit they hate fun."
Ryan frowned. "If you care about animals—"
MJ took a long drink.
"I protect animals from us," MJ said. "Not from nature."
Ryan hesitated. "But we don't need meat."
MJ straightened.
"Humans have eaten meat for over a million years," MJ said. "Since we were barely upright. Hunting helped us survive."
Mike nodded. "Biology."
MJ continued, voice firm. "If you want to be vegetarian, fine. But you don't get to judge others for eating meat."
Ryan looked down. "You think I'm being a hypocrite."
"Yes," MJ said. "A little."
Mike grinned. "Welcome to the family."
Ryan nodded slowly. "…I'll work on it."
MJ lifted his bottle. "And I'll keep eating burgers."
Vanessa's voice carried from inside. "Michael James Baxter, you are not drunk."
"I'm emotionally buzzed," MJ called back.
The fire crackled.
The sanctuary lights glowed in the distance.
MJ stood there—not The Shadow, not a codename—
Just a Baxter.
Home.
If you want, next we can:
Start Chapter 5: Riley & MJ (the slow-burn begins)
Do Mike realizing Mac isn't just 'military'
Or shift to the sanctuary's first real crisis
Just tell me where you want to go next.