"Now isn't this great?" Jack said grinning over to Macgyver. He was glad to see his younger partner grin back. It had taken some work, but he finally had managed to talk Mac into taking vacation time so the two of them could go fishing. He glanced at his watch. "We should be up to the lake in about twenty minutes then I am going to whoop your ass in catching the most fish!"

"You wish! I have a surefire secret my grandfather taught me. "

"Wanna make a bet?" Jack dared. Mac shrugged and looked out the window with a smug smile.

"If you insist on giving me more money—JACK! Look out!" Mac braced himself against the dash as he desperately pointed. Jack didn't answer but he had already seen the problem. In the oncoming lane a blue pick up was skidding into the lane infront of them. Jack managed to swerve without going off the shoulder. The car behind them wasn't so lucky. The truck slammed into them. The red car jumped the guard rail then flew end over end down a steep embankment past the breakdown lane. The truck bounced into his own lane then skidded away. Jack parked the car and he an Mac left it at a run. Down the embankment the car had settled on its roof tilted toward the front driver side bumper. The tall grasses beside the car were beginning to smoke. Mac glanced over at Jack who shared a worried frown and nodded back as they tore down the steep slope. It wouldn't be long before a fire would erupt.

Jack skidded to a stop and knelt by the driver side window. A small blond woman was hanging down her dazed face buried in the airbag. Blood ran down from the side of her temple. Jack glanced through the whole car. Mac was cutting a passenger from the other seat, a blonde teenage boy. No one else was in the car. At least there was that. He leaned against the door enough to free the frame. He managed to get it half way open. He leaned in as much as he could and pulled out the knife he always carried in his boot. He popped the airbag and cut the seatbelt.

Grunting and twisted in an awkward angle he managed to pull the woman out and carry her in her arms up the hill. Mac had already reached the top and was helping the teen to lay down. Jack heard the whoosh of flame behind him and could feel its heat, He didn't look back knowing the car would soon be engulfed. He layed the woman out beside the boy. Jack went to look up at Mac but Mac was running full tilt down the hill toward the burning car.

"Mac! MAC!" He received no answer. Jack was up and running. Mac normally runs faster than

Jack, but desperation sent Jack forward like an owl after a rabbit. He managed to get close enough to grab Mac's collar and yank back. Mac faltered in his step then fell on his ass. He glared at Jack then scrambled back up to run back to the car. Jack managed to get in front of him and put his shoulder into Mac's chest digging in.

"LET GO! We have to get her out! Let GO!" Mac put his foot behind Jack and swept the right. Jack was thrown off balance and fell to one knee. Mac pulled away and ran towards the car.

"MAC!" Jack screamed. Mac managed another five feet before there was a puffing sound and the car blew. Mac was thrown flat on his back. Jack managed to cover his head before landing hard on his side. He shook his head. Jack's ears were singing loud and he could feel blood pouring from his nose. He barely noticed. He got to Mac and without pausing grabbed him under his shoulders and dragged him up the hill. He had just reached the crest with the woman and teen when there was another louder explosion and the dry grass around the car was licked black by flames.

He gently laid Mac down and checked him over. He had a gash over his left eye and a split lip but looked otherwise ok. After a few seconds his eyes fluttered, they widened and he sat up getting ready to run again. Jack pushed him back with hands on shoulders.

"What are you doing?" Mac demanded rage in his voice. "We have to save her!"

"Save who? What are you talking about?" Jack eyed his partner checking for any signs of

Injury he may have missed.

"What do you mean who? The girl in the back seat!" Mac had made it up to his knees when he saw the growing spread of fire. He plopped back a stunned look on his face. He turned to Jack with fury. Jack could feel taught trembles running through his friend.

"Mac...MAC! There wasn't anyone else in the car." Mac made fists out of his hands and for a

Second Jack expected a solid right hook across his bloody nose. Mac moved his mouth as if trying to chew his rage into words. He pushed the grass and slumped back, his gaze changing to one of tragedy.

"You don't have to lie. I know I would have been hurt...but we should have saved her." Tears shone in Mac's eyes. His shoulders slumped. Jack was beginning to feel cold worry snake its way through his veins.

"Mac, what are you talking about? I'm not lying, there was no one else in the car, I checked. I promise-" Mac's fury returned, he shook his head, rolled to his feet and focused on the two accident victims.

"Call the cops." He said to Jack purposely looking away as he lifted the boy's hair away to check for head injury. Jack frowned and stood up pulling out his phone. He glanced down at the flaming car. He began to feel doubt niggle its way into his spine. Had he been wrong? Had he stopped Mac from saving a little girl? Jack shook the doubt away, he knew there hadn't been anyone there. What had Mac seen?

"911, what's your emergency..."

Jack leaned against the hood of their rental. It had some nicks from kicked up rocks but it could have been a lot worse. Jack looked down the incline at the now completely blackened skeleton of the car below. A whole lot worse. He glanced over at the ambulances. Mac was talking to the paramedics as they helped the woman into the back of one. The boy had been taken in one already. The woman reached out to touch Mac's shoulder. He stared at her, said something then was pushed aside by the paramedic He stood staring after them. Jack frowned and walked past the cop cars and milling police officers to stand by his partner. He didn't say anything, but glanced over out of the corner of his eye. Mac hadn't said a word to him yet. Mac looked down then turned to face Jack, ducking his head. Taking a deep breath he looked up at Jack.

"I'm sorry, man. I don't know what just happened." Mac shook his head and turned to walk

Back to their rental. Jack stopped him by grabbing his forearm. Mac looked down unwilling to meet the other's concerned gaze.

"Mac?" Jack asked softly. Mac let out a deep breath and pulled away he began to pace in a small cirlcle his hands emphasizing his frustration

"I saw her, Jack. As clear as I'm seeing you now! I didn't imagine her. I..." Mac shook his head and dropped his hands. He looked up at Jack frustration and confusion dancing across his face. He huffed and started back to the car. Jack matched his stride and walked beside his friend.

"What did you see?" He asked softly.

"A girl, maybe five or six. Dark hair a pink hoodie, glasses. She was pressed against the glass beating on it and yelling."

"I didn't hear anything." Jack said. Mac pulled along side the car and leaned against the hood. He crossed his arms and stared off into space. Jack could almost hear the whir of his brain as it snapped forward after the problem.

"Me neither." Mac said looking at his feet as he kicked at stones at his feet. "I asked Maggie-"

"Maggie?"

"The driver, she was taking her son to soccer camp. She said there had never been anyone

else in the car. She didn't know anyone who matched the girl's description." Mac let out a deep sigh and shook his head looking at Jack. "I swear I saw her, Jack. I'm not making this up-"

Jack held up his hand and leaned beside Mac.

"I never thought you did..."Jack paused and smiled putting on his yellow-lensed shades and crossed to the driver's door. "Maybe it was a ghost?" Mac rolled his eyes.

"A ghost? Really?" Mac asked opening his door. Jack shrugged.

"You have a better explanation?" Jack didn't wait for an answer as he slid into the car. Mac looked over the sight of the accident. He felt a chill run through him. He still could see the girl screaming in despiration, her eyes seemed to peer deep inside him begging to be saved. Mac put on his own shades.

"No, not yet." He muttered sliding into the passenger's seat. He closed the door and looked out the window watching the scene grow smaller in the side mirror. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes trying to let it go, but as he looked back into the mirror again, he knew he couldn't. Who was the girl? Was she real? A figment of his imagination? He felt the gaze of his partner. He shook his head. It was not a ghost. There was no such thing, was there?