A/N: This story picks up a couple of months after Government Issue, but can be read as a stand alone. BTW, I pretty much threw the military handbook out the widow... again. Apologies to any veterans, this is just for fun.
As always, a huge thanks to Dlwells51 for taking the time to give this a quick once over while she's currently working on her own story Force of Nature in the MacGyver verse. It's her first and I'm lovin it. That being said, I didn't give her a chance to really sink her teeth into this one so just pretend I know how to use proper punctuation. ;-)
Trigger Warning: Brief mention of IED injuries, nothing graphic but thought I'd throw that out there.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything having to do with the tv show, or the characters, yadda yadda.
Glossary:
TOC: Tactical Operation Center
UXO: Unexploded Ordinance
AFGHANISTAN:
Jack leaned back in his chair, calling over his shoulder toward the grill Coop was manning, while Box 'supervised'. "A sword!"
Mac cocked his head as he sat next to Jack in one of the lawn chairs they had recently acquired.
Coop looked up from the grill, knife in hand. "A what?"
Jack looked thoughtful and scratched his beard, "A sword, I've never fought anyone with a sword, you know, those thin ones the French use." He twirled his hand, mimicking a parry.
"You mean a foil? For fencing?" Mac asked, trying not to laugh at the thought of Jack wearing a fencing uniform and fighting within the rules with finesse.
"No way dude," Jack said, face scrunched in disgust, "those things aren't even sharp and they bend, not the best weapon." He paused for a second, cocking his head to the side, lost in thought. "Although, I have used worse I suppose." He sat back, relaxed, "No, I'm talking about the swords the Musketeers used, you know, the ones with all the fancy stuff near the handle?"
Mac's brow furrowed. "You mean a rapier? They're actually from Spain I think."
Jack waved a dismissive hand, "Whatever dude, Oliver Reed used one and he was playing a French guy."
Boxer snorted, "I don't think Alexandre Dumas had you or Oliver Reed in mind when he wrote the books Wyatt." He gave Coop a friendly shove, pointing at the grill before intending to head toward the circle of lawn chairs to join the conversation. "Don't burn my steak son."
Coop shook his head, "Frickin Texans, just because you live with cows, doesn't mean you cornered the market on barbecue." Coop pulled the Oakland Raiders ball cap covering his longer than military regulation sandy blond hair off and tried to swat Boxer. "Now, get along little doggie."
Box high stepped, avoiding the friendly swing and plopped down in the chair across from Jack, "Coop, I hate to break it to ya but what you're doin there ain't barbecue, it's called grillin."
Coop scoffed and waved a hand dismissively. "Whatever dude."
Box smiled, turning his attention to Jack, pointing at him with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Guess old man Dover coming after you with a pitchfork is the closest thing to a rapier or a foil you've seen, but that doesn't count. Too many points on it, so yeah, I'll give it to ya."
Jack grinned and winked at Mac who's eyebrows had raised as he looked between the two friends waiting for the story behind the pitchfork. "A pitchfork Jack? What did you do?"
Jack leaned forward, shuffling his feet, his hands becoming animated. "You had to know old Man Dover Mac, this old boy had the prettiest little filly you ever did see, all the right curves in all the right places if you know what I mean." He grinned, licking his lips before wiggling in his seat, settling in to tell the story. "So, one night me an ole Box here went and..."
"Steaks are ready!" Coop yelled, from the grill.
Jack's head snapped up as he jumped out of his chair, practically knocking it over, forgetting the story as he rushed toward the grill, leaving a stunned Mac sitting open mouthed.
Seeming to realize Jack wasn't going to continue the story, Mac jumped out of his own chair and took two strides to catch up with Jack, Boxer not far behind. "Went and what?"
Jack turned his head toward Mac as he held his plate out toward Coop. "Huh?"
Mac sighed in frustration as Jack looked away distractedly, obviously more interested in the steak Coop had just deposited on his plate. "Old man Dover... you and Box?" He asked eagerly as he held his own plate out. "Thanks Coop." he said distractedly, turning, wanting to catch up with Jack when Coop's large hand grabbed his sleeve.
The broad shouldered man smiled at Mac," he pointed the black tactical knife he'd been using to turn the steaks toward Mac's plate. "You better eat the whole thing and come back for seconds baby brother." He gave Mac a friendly shove toward the circle of lawn chairs. "Gotta get some meat on those bones kid!"
Mac regained his balance, miraculously keeping the steak on his plate as he moved toward his chair.
Truth be told, Coop was somewhat impressed at how well Mac had started to develop physically. Ever since he had become an honorary adopted member of Jack's unit, he had been working out with them, which was no easy task for sure.
The kid held his own when it came to running and calisthenics and was even becoming quite good at hand to hand, although he still couldn't beat any of them. For one, they didn't fight fair, and two... they didn't fight fair.
Coop chuckled as he turned and stabbed his own steak onto a plate, passing Mac in two long strides making his way to his own chair.
He sat down and looked expectantly around the circle of men, "Well? How is it?"
"Good job, just enough heat." Boxer answered, using his own knife to stab a hunk of meat.
Mac watched as the men attacked their steaks, complimenting Coop on his grilling skills, forgoing forks and opting to use their tactical knifes as the preferred eating utensil.
Mac wasn't sure the guys even had forks in their small corner of the forward operating base they called home.
Not wanting to be the odd man out but also having never been issued a tactical knife, Mac reached in his pocket and pulled out his Swiss Army knife, flipping open the blade, slightly embarrassed.
Jack nudged him with his knee and winked, before leaning over and pulling another knife from the sheath in his boot flipping it in the air, deftly catching it by the blade, he presented the handle to Mac. "Wanna use this one?" He nodded towards Mac's plate.
Mac eyed the offered weapon with a slight cringe. "Um, no thanks." He held his small knife up, "This works just fine." The thought of using a knife that could have been used for who knows what was not something he was willing to do just yet.
Jack shrugged, flipped the knife around and put it back in his boot, stabbing the last of the steak and popping it in his mouth.
Boxer let out a small laugh, "Umbrella!"
Coop leaned back in his chair slightly irritated. "Dude, now why in the world would someone have a freaking umbrella in this god forsaken place?"
Mac's eyebrows rose as he shared a look with Jack. The older man gave a snort. "Box, an umbrella doesn't count man, has to be an actual weapon."
Coop pat Box on the back, "Nice try though dude."
It was a game they had started while waiting for Coop to cook the steaks they had procured along with the lawn chairs.
The rules were simple. Try to come up with a weapon they hadn't used or hadn't had to defend themselves against.
They had started by choosing common weaponry at first. After having exhausted most of those, they changed the rules to include common items that could be used in place of a firearm, cannon, aircraft or explosives. Mac had explained each one of his choices in such detail, the Delta operators had decided he shouldn't be allowed to participate.
"Kid can make a weapon out of a freaking tic tac man." Jack had complained after they had gone on for a while.
Mac had watched as the operators came together in a huddle, obviously discussing Mac's participation. When they broke the huddle, Jack announced that they had come to an agreement.
Mac found himself in the unenviable position of referee. They had claimed it was because he was the youngest of the group and had virtually no fighting experience, his options for weapons was a lot more than they had to choose from.
Mac had agreed, simply because he knew when it came to competitiveness, these guys took the proverbial cake. Truthfully, he wanted no part in being around a group of highly trained, highly motivated disgruntled sore loser, Delta operators. Especially if he were the reason they were disgruntled.
"Hey, an umbrella could be a weapon, pointy end you know." Boxer plead his case.
Jack flung his hand out lightly tapping Mac on the arm, "Whatcha think Mac, should we give Box umbrella as a weapon?"
Mac looked thoughtful for a moment and smiled mischievously. "Yeah, I'd give it to him, I can think of at least five different ways an umbrella could be used to make a weapon."
Jack gave an eye roll, "Of course you could."
Boxer's chest puffed out proudly, "See, told you man, Mac says it's good."
Coop unwilling to concede, popped a hunk of steak in his mouth and pointed his knife toward Mac, in a friendly albeit menacingly way, "Yeah well, other than things that go boom, what's Mac know about weapons anyway." He complained.
Jack snorted, "Dude, you were here earlier when we started this right? Remember the uh..." Jack snapped his fingers trying to recall the item. He leaned toward Mac and whispered conspiratorially, "What'd you call that thing, you know the science geek one?"
Mac played along with Jack's less than stealth attempt to get the answer and whispered, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Jack huffed and sat back, giving Mac an annoyed smirk, before looking back at Coop who was doing his best to look impatient.
Coop tried not to laugh at the way Mac purposefully left Jack hanging out to dry, which invariably ended up one of two ways. Jack making up something that made absolutely no sense, or Jack trying to outflank his opponent.
Jack leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees and pointed at Coop, "Doesn't matter, you know as well as I do, if I gave him a freakin roll of duct tape and a toothbrush, he'd probably kick your ass."
Coop's eyes crinkled, flanking maneuver, he thought, and shifted his gaze to Mac expectantly. "Is that so?"
Mac looked nervously between the two men, trying to figure out how he'd become the topic of conversation, "Actually Jack, I'd need a few more things to..." He stopped mid sentence, the amused looks on Coop and Box's faces had turned serious as they looked past Jack.
Jack and Mac turned, looking over their shoulders to see Specialist Franklin from the tactical operations center jogging toward them.
"This can't be good," Coop said setting his plate down and standing up.
Jack stood up to face the newcomer as Franklin slid to a stop in front of him. "Specialist?"
Franklin surveyed the scene before him, recognizing he was interrupting the operator's down time. "I'm sorry sir, but the Major needs to see you in the TOC asap." He looked down at the ground and took a deep breath before looking back up. "The escort detail got hit by an IED, Major sent me to get you, wants to send you guys out with the quick reaction force." He looked at his watch, "Birds are inbound, you're wheels up in twenty."
Box and Coop were already moving toward the barracks, Box stopped next to Jack and laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'll get your gear squared away, and we'll meet you outside the TOC."
Jack nodded and turned toward Mac who was still standing near his chair. "Mac, get your gear, you're coming with, if our guys are involved, I want you to do the post blast."
Mac nodded and jogged toward the barracks as Jack and the Private left at a slow jog.
0-0-0
As part of Jack's squad, Mac had learned early on to have his gear ready to go at a moment's notice, so it didn't take much more to get ready than to change clothes, grab his vest and pack and wait for Box and Coop outside the barracks.
Coop was the first to exit, still adjusting one of the multitude of weapons he was carrying, followed by Boxer, who was doing much of the same while trying to balance Jack's gear with his own.
Boxer gave Mac a slight head nod. "We need to stop by the armory and pick up a few things, you need anything Mac?"
Mac fell in beside the two operators, keeping up with their quick march. By the looks of the two men, Mac started to tabulate a list of things he might need based upon the number of weapons each man was carrying. "Yeah, they said it was an IED and want me to do the post blast analysis but where there's one..." He shrugged, "I'll grab some det cord and a case of bricks." He said referring to the plastic explosives used to detonate unexploded IED's.
Coop's jaw clenched and unclenched, in rhythm with his long stride. "Expect the best..."
"Plan for the worst." Boxer finished.
0-0-0
After they'd stopped at the armory and arrived outside of the TOC, they didn't have to wait long before the door flew open and Jack ran down the steps. He skid to a stop when he spotted the trio. "They got hit."
Box held out Jack's vest and pack. Jack grabbed the vest and put it on over the black Iron Maiden t-shirt as he started walking toward the helipad. "We've got two squads of Rangers coming with, we'll be taking two birds to the site," he reached back toward Boxer and grabbed his pack, quickly adjusting the shoulder straps, threading the coiled ear piece under the strap and around his ear.
"What's left of the escort is taking sporadic small arms from a village about half a klick from the blast site." He reached into his thigh pocket and pulled out a stack of aerial photo's, handing them to Boxer and taking the thigh holster and pistol from Coop.
"Those photos are from a drone that was overhead, you can see the site." He slowed to snap the straps around his thigh. "The irrigation ditch to the south east is the most likely position of the small arms they've been taking but so far, they cant get a visual, canopy is too thick in the wash."
Coop handed Jack his rifle as he and Mac studied the photos over Boxer's shoulder. "Any word on Pete and Dunc?" Mac asked hesitantly.
Jack stopped at the edge of the helipad, he ducked under the sling of his rifle and shoved it to his back. "Pete's surgical critical, amputation," he scrubbed a hand down his face. "I don't know what or how bad," Jack cleared his throat and stood straight, shoulders square. "Dunc's surgical non-critical, two KIA and three more wounded." He finished almost factually.
If you didn't know him, you would have thought the news had no effect on the team leader, Mac knew different. He'd seen the clenching of the jaw, and the stiffness in his posture, but the dead give away that Jack was trying his best not to let his emotions take hold, was the moisture in his eyes, eyes that could hold buckets without shedding a tear it seemed.
Coop bent over, resting his hands on his knees, shaking his head, "God dammit! Pete just got word, Becky's pregnant, gonna have twins."
Coop's declaration wasn't a surprise to the other members of the group, when Pete had found out, he had shared it with as many people that would listen. Some of which had no choice, as the proud father to be had no problem invading a person's personal space, grabbing soldiers he came across regardless of rank and shoving the tiny ultrasound picture in their face excitedly yelling "Twins, man, I'm gonna have twins!" Before running off looking for the next reluctant witness.
Box grabbed Coop under the arm and gently forced him to stand up. "Get your shit together man, birds are coming in."
Coop's long arm came up, grabbing Boxer's shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "I'm good, just..." He looked sideways, pleadingly at Boxer, but the older man didn't have any words of comfort to offer, which was an unusual thing for the stocky Texan.
On missions, Jack was papa bear, Boxer on the other hand was more mama bear to the unit, offsetting Jack's tactics, strategies and no nonsense approach... most of the time.
Mac's arrival in the unit had thrown a monkey wrench in Jack's internal tactical manual, "The kid is just something you couldn't account for." Jack had said once, while trying to explain his actions after a mission, that having the young EOD tech on the team made him a better leader. He had to think faster and outside the proverbial military box. Or at least more outside the box than he normally thought.
Box was famous for dolling out words of wisdom when needed, especially when it came to their hot tempered leader. Box wore many hats in the unit for sure, but right now, he was one hundred percent second in command, mission ready.
Mac wiped the moisture from his eyes as he looked at Jack.
Jack's face was unreadable, as he returned the look briefly before dropping his chin, emotions in check as he walked determinedly toward the incoming Rangers.
Coop had gathered himself and stood to his full 6'7" height, a white knuckled grip on his rifle. "We better be doing more than just providing security for a fucking post blast analysis man." He looked at Mac, the fire in his eyes softened, "Sorry Mac, didn't mean any offense, I know you gotta do it, I just hope we get some fucking payback s'all."
Mac held his hand up, "None taken Coop, I know how you feel."
Boxer pointed toward the group of Rangers and rested his hands on his rifle, as they watched as Jack shake hands with the Captain in charge. "That's Captain Marconi, good man."
The conversation between Marconi and Jack didn't last long as the Blackhawks came in and set down on the helipad. The two men shook hands again. Jack turned and twirled his hand over his head, signaling for Mac and his men to get on the bird, six Rangers hot on his heels.
Jack stood to the side of the crew compartment while the Rangers boarded, finally climbing in and settling in his customary spot, back against the bulkhead, foot dangling out the door as the helicopter lifted off.
0-0-0
Jack's demeanor hadn't changed in the five minutes they'd been in the air, he hadn't said a word since he'd told them about Pete and Duncan and Mac was concerned. Usually this was the part where Jack would be making plans, or joking with the helicopter crew or something other than staring out the door watching the terrain go by.
Mac looked across the crew compartment at Boxer questioningly and nodded his head toward Jack. Boxer leaned forward and lightly tapped Jack on the shoulder effectively breaking the trance he was in.
Jack looked around the crew compartment as if he just realized where he was. He straightened, cleared is throat and reached back over his head for the headset hanging there.
Coop, Box and Mac did the same, as did the Sergeant in charge of the squad of Rangers.
Jack swept his eyes around the inside of the helicopter making eye contact with each man as they waited for his brief.
He took a deep cleansing breath, "Alright, we're headed into a hot zone, last report was the remaining ground element has been taking sporadic small arms fire." He nodded at Boxer, "These pictures are about..." he checked his watch as Boxer passed the photo's around the cabin, "an hour old, so aside from the destroyed vehicles, our units may be in a different location when we get there which should be in the next twenty minutes."
The Sergeant studied the photo's, "What's the plan once we're on the ground, we providing security or evac?"
"The wounded have been evac'd, Marconi and his squad are going to provide security to the right of the blast site somewhere in this area here," he held the photo up toward the men, "We're pretty sure it's clear, seein as how the ground element already passed through the area before getting hit."
Jack flipped the photo around getting his bearings before presenting it to the men. "We'll be setting down somewhere in this area and doing pretty much the same, Delta will sweep the immediate area for any UXO before starting the post blast, while you Rangers set a perimeter."
Coop raised his hand, something Jack had told him he didn't have to do but it still hadn't sunk in. The corner of Jack's mouth turned up, "What's up Coop? And stop raising your hand dude."
Coop quickly dropped his hand and looked around the cabin, glaring at the other men, daring them to smile or snicker, his guys were the only ones allowed to do that. "Coms boss?"
Jack pulled a small notebook out of his vest pocket, flipping to the first page. "We've got two tac channels if needed, Marconi's designator is Tiger one," Jack nodded at the Ranger Sergeant, "Sergeant Ellis and his squad here are Tiger two, our callsign for this one is Spartan."
"What kind of air support we have?" Boxer asked, taking his own notes.
"We'll have a pair of A10's that are already on station, designator is Blue 1 and Blue 2, from what I understand, they've already done a few gun runs, so don't count on them being there if they have to go back and re-arm."
The men all nodded in understanding, as the pilot announced over the coms that they were one minute out.
"Got a visual on the friendlies?" Jack asked the pilots, unable to see the blast site from the helicopter's approach.
"Affirm, Blue 1 reports they're still taking fire, we're settin down on the north side of the site, there's a berm that should provide some cover, Blue 1 and 2 are dry, but are going to stay on station, give us a few low passes hopefully keeping the bad guy's heads down until we can drop you boys off."
"Copy that, thanks for the lift." Jack removed the headset, unclipping the tether, he held his rifle at the ready as the ground got closer.
To be continued...
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this. I've got quite a bit of this written and wasn't planning on posting until it was complete but I had a bit of a scare yesterday after the app I use updated and everything I had written for this disappeared. After having a mini meltdown where I was ready to throw in the towel on this one and take the rest of the summer off from writing, I finally came to my senses and did a hard reset on my iPad. Luckily it recovered everything. I am now backing everything up to the cloud, even though I have no clue how that works, but I figured I'd start posting what I've got before the gremlins strike again. That and it will force me to finish it. ;-) I'll stop rambling now, feeling a bit wordy today. Chapter two will be up hopefully sometime tomorrow, work permitting. Thanks for reading.
-Gib-