Mac coughed as they sloshed to the van. It was chilly out and low fog danced in the dim moonlight on the deserted road. Mac and Jack kept grinning at each other. Not only had they survived, proving this was not a rerun of Cairo, but also that Mac held the damp glowing blue container containing the bioweapon. They had twelve hours until exfil in Vienna, all in all a good night.
Mac stopped in his tracks and glanced at Jack uneasily. Jack nodded sliding out his pistol. The van was dark and quiet, too quiet.
"Nikki?" Mac called his heart thumping with dread. If something happened to Nikki...He pushed past Jack and came around the back of the van. The doors were open and there was no sign of Nikki. "Nikki!" Mac yelled, looking around for any sign of where she was or if she...he sliced that idea off. She would be fine, she had to be.
"Mac?" Mac whirled to see a terrified Nikki move forward with her hands up. He heard Jack beside him. A man with a gun pointed at Nikki's head came into view.
"Give me the cannister." He said. Mac's mind whirled trying to come up with a way to keep Nikki safe, to distract the man so Jack could take him down.
"I'm sorry." Nikki said softly. Mac felt his heart squeeze.
"You just let her go, now." Jack said a dangerous edge to his voice. Mac could tell his partner was going to shoot the guy, he tensed ready to grab Nikki and drag her to safety. He heard a rustle of noise then Jack let out a grunt of pain. Mac whirled in time to see Jack fold to the ground out cold. Another man all in black that only left his dark eyes showing, pointed a pistol at Mac. Mac held out the bioweapon.
"Stay back" He yelled his gaze bouncing between the two guys.
"You drop that you'll kill millions." The man pointing a gun at Nikki's head said. Mac bit his lip. Jack was still out, he didn't see anything for a weapon. Mac was beginning to think this really was Cairo all over again.
"Let her go, or maybe I'll drop it and we'll all die." He said. His voice was steady.
"You won't kill her, but I will," the man said. In the end, there really was no debate. Mac knew full well how many could die, but he couldn't watch Nikki die, he couldn't. He remembered Pena's voice from EOD training "what can kill you now, what can kill you later." Nikki saw his choice in his eyes.
"No, Mac don't!" She screamed. Mac held out the cannister. The man snatched it.
"Now let her go." Mac said. The man turned to Nikki and shot her in the chest.
"NO!" He screamed running toward her as she flipped off the bridge. Mac heard the snap of a gun and something slammed into his chest, turning him and flipping him over the edge of the bridge. He slammed into the water and everything faded. He came to himself and desperately splashed his way to the surface. His left arm hung useless and numb bobbing in the water beside him. He desperately waved his soggy hair out of his eyes and scanned for Nikki. He didn't see her anywhere. He wanted to scream. Everything began to go black. Mac rolled over onto his back and forced himself to relax into a float. He closed his eyes and drifted away.
Jack woke up with a killer headache. He shook it away and scrambled up to his knee gun seeking the darkness and shadows He scowled. He was alone. Not good.
"Mac? Nikki?" He yelled. He was away of a weak splashing of water. He ran to the bridge and looked down. Mac was floating limply on the water. Jack noted the blood soaking his shirt and staining the water flowing around him. Jack didn't hesitate, he stepped back, put a foot on the edge of the bridge and jumped. He managed to land about five foot from Mac. He sliced through the water.
"Hey bud." Jack said pulling Mac up against him. Mac was pale, looking almost as white as his shirt by the moonlight. Jack could feel him shuddering. He shook Mac gently. "Mac, you with me, bud?" Mac moaned and his eyes opened to small slits. His mouth moved, but no sound came out. Jack sighed. He'd take it. He turned Mac and began to life rescue swim back to shore.
Mac moaned again when Jack got his footing grabbed him by his waist and began dragging him up the steep bank. Jack dug his heels in and grunted as he worked against gravity and Mac's dead weight. He was panting by the time he laid Mac on the tar of the road. Mac's eyes fluttered to half mast.
"Nikki?" He coughed. He reached out with his right hand and grabbed Jack's wrist as Jack bent to open his shirt. Jack looked into the blue eyes that were full of pain far worse than the bullet in his shoulder. Jack sighed.
"I don't know. Let's get you fixed up then we'll find her." Mac looked like he was going to argue, but then his hand dropped limp across his chest. Probably exhaustion more than agreement, Jack thought. Mac closed his eyes. His teeth were chattering.
"Nope, uh-uh you open those peepers. C'mon now." Jack insisted. Mac slowly opened his eyes. Jack smiled down. He opened Mac's shirt and winced as Mac arched his back a litte automatically trying to get away from Jack's hands. Jack carefully reached down and lifted Mac against him. He ran his hand along Mac's back and shook his head. No exit wound. Not good.
"Nikki…" Mac said softly his head leaning onto Jack's shoulder. Jack could hear the depth of naked pain in his voice, He gave Mac a careful quick hug. He gently lowered Mac back to the ground. Jack bent and tore at the sleeve on Mac's bloody shirt.
"Too bad you used your tie earlier…" Jack babbled, part to keep Mac awake, part to keep himself from freaking out. He jammed the soggy ball of shirt into the hole in Mac's arm. Mac let out a gasp of pain, his eyes drifting closed. Jack tried shaking him, but Mac was out for the count.
"Dammit!" He swore. He bent and lifted Mac's limp body in his arms. He staggered to the van and winced as he worked Mac longwise on the van's floor. "You should be happy you're out for all this, Mac." He mumbled. He reached under the computer-Nikki's computer. He shoved his own grief over the death of the vibrant beautiful woman down deep. His priority was Mac, as always. He pulled out a thick woolen blanket and neck pillow. They always kept them in the van when running surveillance. He was grateful for that more than ever as he wrapped his extremely pale friend in the blanket and put the pillow under his neck to cushion his head. Jack reached out and squeezed Mac's hand.
"Now you just rest, ol' son. I'll get you to the hospital and you are going to be fine. You are because today ain't Cairo day, got me. You're going to be fine." Jack slammed the doors shut and jumped into the van. He pulled out the sat phone in the tray beside the seat. He flipped the heat up to full blast as he listened intently to the ringing. It seemed like forever before Thornton answered.
"Uh...Patty we have a problem…" He moved the rearview mirror so he could watch Mac as he drove and talked. Mac was still out, but seemed to be shivering less. Jack clung to that as a lifeline for hope. He ground the pedal with his boot as he whipped toward the city listening to Thornton's instructions.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Bozer studied his best friend as he stirred the waffle mix. Mac had only been home a week. He looked terrible. He was pale with dark circles under his eyes. His left arm was in a brace that held the arm to his side so he didn't move it. The stiff way he moved blared out that he was in pain, but Bozer knew he refused to take his pain medication because it helped him sleep. Mac didn't want to sleep because of nightmares. It seemed every time he drifted off the accident would play over and over. Nightmares where he woke up calling out, was not a new thing, but they had become more insistent and if volume was any indication, much worse. More worrying he laid on the couch listly flipping channels. His eyes, bloodshot from tears he tried to hide, were a million miles away reflecting the sinking hole of grief he'd fallen into. Bozer frowned.
He had never loved anyone like Mac loved Nikki, he just hadn't met the right one. If honest, Bozer had to admit he had been a little jealous, happy for his friend, of course, but jealous nevertheless. He opened the waffle maker and carefully poured just the right amount of mix. He smiled. Mac had repeatedly told Bozer he didn't have to make him breakfast every morning, but Bozer knew if he didn't Mac wouldn't eat at all, and he wanted his boy to know that he cared. The front door opened and Jack strolled in.
"Yo bros, what up?" Bozer grinned. He had been friendly with Jack ever since Mac came back from the army, but he was truly calling Jack a friend now. He had come over every day since Mac was out of the hospital. He was the only one who could get Mac to sleep and eat more than a bite or two. Bozer nagged and tried every guilt trip he could think of, but Jack-well Jack must have blackmail material or something. Mac argued, but always gave in to the sheer stubbornness of his friend. Bozer figured it was a guy-shared-combat thing. Best of all, Jack changed Mac's arm dressing every day. Bozer had been told how terrible it was, evidently something had broken off and impaled his friend's shoulder. Bozer didn't need to see that.
"Jack-eeeey!" He drawled reaching out and giving the older man a bro hug. Jack put a paper bag full of packages of dressings on the counter. He looked over to Mac who hadn't even noticed his entrance. Jack glanced at Bozer who shook his head sadly. Jack forced a smile.
"Those smell great." He said loudly, trying to get Mac's attention. No go.
"Why do you always come over when there's food?" Bozer asked playing along. Jack smiled but didn't deny it. Bozer plopped the thick waffle on a plate. He poured on strawberry topping he had made by hand from real strawberries. He then buried it in whip cream. Jack went to swipe a finger of whip cream. Bozer slapped his hand and glared at him. Jack smiled amused. Bozer carefully cut up the waffle then handed Jack the plate and a fork. Jack crossed to Mac and sat on the coffee table. Mac looked up at him startled.
"Hey Jack, when did you get here?" Mac asked. He went to sit up. Jack put the plate beside him and reached over and carefully helped. Jack did not miss the huff of pain from his partner. No meds then, which translated to no sleep. Jack put that on his morning to do list. Once Mac sat up he closed his eyes a second. Jack waited sure it was dizziness. The wound had been a through and through, but Mac had lost a lot of blood. When they had transferred him from surgery to his room, he had a bag of blood pouring in and two more on deck. He had received some in ER but Jack didn't know how much. Probably enough to count as a full oil change. Jack still shuddered thinking of how bad Mac looked by the time they pulled into the hospital. He pushed those thoughts away focusing on the man before him, reminding himself that Mac had made it. He was hurting but Jack knew he would be ok, eventually.
"What time is it?" Mac said opening his eyes and focusing on Jack's face. Jack made a show of looking at his watch. The pain in those baby blues was excruciating to see.
"Oh around breakfast o'clock." Jack said. He was rewarded by a weak smile that was polite. Mac looked at the plate and looked nauseous.
"I'm not hungry." Mac sighed.
"Don't care." Jack said. Mac looked at him with mild heat. Well at least that was something. Jack hoped for the day when he would get the full MacGyver glare as Mac mentally lopped off Jack's head. Mac sighed, his shoulders dropping.
"This is too much." He said softly.
"There is never too much of Bozer's homemade waffles." Jack said, his own stomach growling.
"Darn tootin'!" Bozer amened from the kitchen. He walked over and handed Jack a plate. Knowing how voracious the man was Bozer had given him two waffles. With a sad sigh of defeat, Mac accepted the plate from Jack and laid it carefully on his lap. He glanced up at Jack who was tearing into his breakfast like a tiger into gazelle steak. Mac looked over at Bozer.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Bozer was efficiently cleaning the kitchen.
"I ate earlier, I have to leave for work soon." Mac's eyes widened, he hadn't realized it was that late. Bozer finished putting away the strawberries and whip cream then came around the island. He was already in his work clothes. Mac looked down at his plate. He hadn't noticed that either. Some spy. With that thought his brain again played the footage of Nikki jerking from being shot and falling over backwards...Mac was startled by a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked up into the soft kind eyes of one of his two best friends. Jack gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze of empathy.
"C'mon bud, your waffles are getting soggy." Mac nodded and speared a bite.
He ate it. He knew he loved it, but the hollowness he felt inside made it taste like ash.
"Jack, our boy's cray-cray, he likes it soggy." Bozer said as he gathered his keys from the front table.
"Seriously?" Jack asked with genuine surprise and a little disgust. Mac shrugged then closed his eyes against the pain that came with it. Bozer shot Jack a worried look.
"Don't worry, Boze, I got this." Bozer smiled in relief, waved and headed out the door. Jack smiled after him appreciating his being such a good friend to Mac. He turned to Mac and found Mac glaring at him. It took a few seconds to realize why. Mac was upset that his friends felt the need to take care of him, make him a project. Jack smiled and met Mac's gaze without flinching. Mac let out a sigh and ate more of his waffle. Jack didn't leave him alone until he'd eaten half. Jack took the plates into the kitchen and cleaned them. Mac leaned back and yawned. He was exhausted, he wished he could sleep without full color rewinds of Nikki dying. Jack came back over with two pain pills and a glass of water. Mac shook his head.
"I don't need those…" He began. Jack rolled his eyes.
"Mac, we've done this before, it's kinda becoming a daily ritual. Just take the damn pills for once, you know you're going to eventually." Mac sighed. He knew Jack was right, he just didn't want to sleep. Jack saw his reluctance and sat back down ducking his head until he met Mac's eyes. "Look, I know you don't want nightmares but you're hurting a lot, I can tell. That kind of pain isn't good. You have PT later and I know that's gonna suck enough with pain meds on board."
"Fine." Mac snarled. He snatched up the pills and downed them his eyes never leaving Jack's. He handed back the glass and opened his mouth as if Jack would check. He then leaned back, his chin jutted out in petulant protest. Jack nodded and brought the glass to the kitchen. He grabbed the bag of dressings. He went over to Mac's good side and leaned out an arm. Mac reached out and allowed him pull him to his feet. Jack held on as Mac swayed a little his eyes closed. Jack watched him swallow and prayed Mac wouldn't puke. Jack cold handle anything, of course, but puke was...nasty. Jack wrinkled his nose at the idea and walked behind Mac who slowly shuffled to his room. After Mac plopped onto the bed, Jack helped him out of his sling. Mac groaned as Jack helped him with the giant T-Shirt Mac wore. Mac sat his eyes closed. Jack could tell he was lost in waves of non-controlled pain. He hoped Mac's meds would kick in soon. Jack removed the wrapping and thick pads of dressing. He frowned at the small amount of blood and discharge on the dressing. When he checked the stitches he saw they were tight and intact. He frowned in sympathy. It probably leaked during a nightmare. He looked up to see Mac watching him.
"It's not too will hardly have a scar."
"Great." Mac said his eyes dropping to the floor, Jack could see the well of tears forming and knew that Mac had travelled the well worn path to memories of Nikki. Jack knew that right now even happy memories sliced like a knife. He again squeezed Mac's good shoulder, then carefully began to wash out the wound and rebandage it. Mac didn't talk, just sat staring at his hands in his lap. Jack leaned him forward and did the same to the back. He then wrapped the bandages tight and tied the gauze. He put the shirt back on, then helped Mac into the sling. It had taken about half an hour, enough time for the meds to kick in Mac was swaying his eyes half closed.
"Come on, Mac." Jack said softly. Mac slowly looked at him then turned to the bed. He stared at the bed like it was an enemy made of nails. He yawned but still paused.
"Don't worry I'll be here, " Jack said. Mac looked up at him with desperation. Jack nodded. "I'll wake you up before it gets bad." Mac nodded. Jack helped him lay down.
Mac stared up at the ceiling then at Jack silently asking a question. Jack squeezed his hand after pulling the covers up.
"Don't worry I'll be here, I promise." Mac weakly smiled his thanks. His eyes drooped closed and in seconds he was out. Jack sat watching him. Almost immediately Mac began to moan and twitch, but he settled down. Jack leaned back. He wished with all his heart he could erase the pain emotional and physical but he knew only time could. Jack smiled fondly at his sleeping partner. Didn't mean he and Bozer wouldn't be there every step helping it along.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
To say Riley was surprised to see Jack Dalton again would have been a vast understatement. Hurt that she thought long ago left behind stuck in her throat. To keep from showing it, something she'd had to learn in Supermax, she turned to face the young man that sat across from her. He was drop dead handsome with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. He was dressed nice, professional.
"You aren't going to say anything to me?" Jack demanded. Riley turned her hurt boiling off to rage.
"What do you want me to say, Jack?" Jack actually had the nerve to look hurt. He went to grab the chair and slide it closer.
"Ok enough." The blonde man said. Riley's eyes widened in two part surprise. HIs voice was deeper than she expected and cracked with authority much older than his apparent age. Even more surprising, Jack deferred to him. Jack sat down backwards in the chair. Sniping with hot accusation she said, "I thought you were a tile salesman."
"Do I look like a tile salesman?" As he moved the chair closer he started babbling about the CIA.
"Jack" the blonde guy said, but years of history and not all of it good bubbled up. Before Riley could really let go, the guy bellowed, "enough! You two are on a time out from now on." They both looked at him surprised, but quieted. Riley turned to face the younger man. She guessed he was about the same age as she was, but his eyes looked much, much older.
"So you're CIA?" She asked unimpressed.
"We're so secret the CIA doesn't even know we exist." Riley's eyes widened.
"Your DXS?" They both stared at her in surprise. Jack grinned and looked at the other man whose mouth quirked at the edges.
"Told you she was good." Jack crowed. Oddly his pride hurt, Riley decided to ignore him. She leaned forward to listen as the blonde man, MacGyver as it turned out, lay out the story of why they needed her help. Riley smiled and leaned back. If prison taught her anything it was never to give anything without getting something.
"Fine I'll help you, but I want a commuted sentence like zero days served...and access to tech."
"I can't do that." Riley jutted out her chin.
"Are you kidding me? DXS can move Christmas." Mac leaned forward. He studied her. Riley figetted, she felt like he was inside her head weighing and measuring her like a tool.
"I can't promise anything." He leaned toward her. She met his steady gaze and leaned in to him. He puzzled her, but came no where near intimidating her. She could feel Jack's eyes boring into her left scalp. He was probably surprised she would haggle when she could get out of a place as hellish as this one. As always, Jack was clueless.
"Did you do it?" Mac asked. Riley didn't blink.
"Yes, Mr. MacGyver have you ever done something for the right reasons that you regretted? Yes, I did it and I would do it again in a heartbeat." There was a long moment of silence, then Mac smiled and sat back. Riley felt like she'd passed some sort of test. She found herself liking this guy.
"I can't promise anything."
"I haven't said I'd do it yet." She declared. She'd be damned if she was going to beg. Mac studied her a second then leaned in again.
"You said you did something good to help someone despite landing in here. Do yourself a favor come with us and you can thank me later."
"Thank you for what?" He just watched her a mysterious smile on his face.
"Exactly what is it you do?" She asked. To her surprise he leaned forward and wrapped her hands in his.
"You know how you how you hack computers?" She nodded. To her shock her handcuffs sprang open. He held up an unwound paper clip. "I hack everything else." Riley grinned rubbing her wrists. The job they had for her was rediculously simple. She had them into Nikki's files in under a minute. She turned around crowing about how easy it was. She wanted to prove herself to them, she wanted to stay with them. When Thornton said she was to go directly back to prison, Mac stood up for her.
Riley watched them go back and forth trying to add in comments to aid in Mac's argument. Frankly the dark-haired woman scared the hell out of Riley. In prison, Riley had learned to spot who was a threat immediately. Although she was dressed in bland business suit Riley knew she was more dangerous than anyone else she ever met. Finally Mac put his foot down.
"Look you know I use everything in my surroundings as a tool, I need her." Riley watched as he stared Thornton down.
"We'll take responsibility." Jack said quickly. Thornton sent him a very unimpressed glare.
"She is our responsibility." Mac reiterated. Thornton was visibly pissed.
"Fine, if she's your responsibility get yourselves to San Francisco." Riley thought that was being unnecessarily petty but didn't care. Inside she was flyiing, freedom!
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
It hurt worse than the gunshot. Mac met Nikki's eyes in surprise. His flash of joy was punctured by her turning to flee. Mac yelled for Jack as he knifed through the crowd with a single minded purpose. He followed her to a narrow alley and ran full tilt after her. HIs shoulder grew in agony. He gritted his teeth and ignored the rasping of his breath. Mac knew he wasn't anywhere near 100% yet but didn't let that slow him. He yelled her name. Why was she running? The probably answer was acid in the pit of his stomach that he didn't want to acknowledge. He burst out onto the street and saw her get into a black car, helped by none other than the man who had shot him. Mac yelled her name again worry louder than anger in his voice. The man turned and shot at Mac. Mac swore under his breath spun and ran back down the alley with the man in close pursuit. Mac noticed a folded emergency ladder. He stopped running, climbed a step and pulled the bolt holding the stairs up. The man came closer. He said something threatening Mac hardly heard as he waited the man to take a step closer. Mac reached up pulled another pin and the metal stairs dropped to knock the guy out. Mac stared at him a second catching his breath. Jack came out of a door his gun seeking targets. Mac looked at him. Jack frowned in alarm. Mac was a really bad color of sallow pale and his eyes were wide with some sort of trauma.
"Are you ok?" He asked as he bent to restrain their prisoner. Mac didn't answer but turned and sprinted down to the road again. Jack yelled his name and followed leaving the bound unconscious man behind. Mac was spinning looking up and down the street desperation on his face. "Hey what's wrong, man? It's over."
"No!" Mac almost yelled. Jack's worry went up another rung. Before he could say anything Mac looked at him with a stricken look. "It's Nikki, Nikki's alive." He said. Jack stared at Mac his alarm now at the top of the pole at a five alarm fire.
"Really?" He asked. Mac nodded and ran both hands through his hair as if he were trying to keep his head from exploding. "Hey, Mac…" Jack began gently. Mac looked up with an unreadable expression.
"We have to get him somewhere to question him." Jack nodded and pulled the hand he was reaching out to his friend back. Mac was folding his most recent trauma and putting it in the bottom drawer for later. They returned to gather their prisoner.
Mac paced behind the van as Jack threatened the man. Jack nailed higher between the man's legs getting the man's undivided attention. All bravodo left him at that point. Mac couldn't wait any longer he had to know.
"What do you have on her? How did you make her help you?" Jack glanced up at his partner. He could see the agony behind Mac's eyes and voice. The man smiled deciding to twist the knife as he stabbed Mac hard in the gut.
"I didn't do anything." He sneered.
"You're lying."
"No, I'm not, look in her bank account she was wired five million dollars." Jack watched hope dim from his partner's voice.
"She paid you to help her, you shot her." Mac said.
"Yeah, getting away was part of the deal." Mac's mask cracked. In a small voice he asked,
"And me? What about me?" Jack wanted to punch the man so much, and then Nikki-the bitch! Not for the betrayal he felt, but for making the soul cracking pain to return to Mac's eyes. Their prisoner shrugged obviously enjoying himself at Mac's expense.
"She didn't want to kill you, but if things got messy she understood." Jack watched as a shutter fell over Mac's face. Another life altering betrayal. Mac turned to Riley his face and voice all business.
"Did you get enough?" Riley had watched this with wide eyes looking down wishing she hadn't seen it all. What a bitch this Nikki was! She glanced at Jack seeing the same rage she had seen years before before he beat the crap out of her father. Riley assured Mac she had. They dialed Nikki and everything the prisoner had said was confirmed by Nikki herself. Mac's eyes dropped to the ground. He glanced at Jack then turned and walked to the side of the van. Jack frowned worried that he would fall into even worse despair than he had been. He put duct tape over the prisoner's mouth with enough force to show that if the man even twitched wrong Jack would end him. The man looked back in fear. He understood and knew Jack would make it long and very painful.
Jack crossed to Mac trying to think of something to say. Riley said she couldn't find out where Nikki had gone. Mac had gotten that far away look he always got when his mental wheeles were skidding at the speed of light. He looked up excited remembering some book thing that told them Nikki was still in San Fran. Jack eyed Mac trying to decide if the younger man was ready for what was coming. Mac turned and climbed into the passenger seat of the van without comment. Jack kept eye balling him on the way to the airport. A couple of times he went to open his mouth to ask the kid if he was alright, but Mac's pale face told him all he needed to know. Of course he wasn't ok, but he was focused on bigger things, like a billion or whatever year old virus.