Thanks goes to Dlwells for taking a look at this and making suggestions. It's much appreciated. I would also like to send a shout out to MarenMary93 if you're seeing this chapter, you're directions worked. ;-)
I still don't own anything having to do with the show. They won't return my calls.
Chapter 2
The next morning Jack arrived at Macs house. He let himself in and yelled "yo! Mac, you up yet?" He heard someone coming down the hall.
"Hey Jack," Mac greeted as he walked into the living room wiping a towel through his wet hair. "I'll be ready in a minute"
Jack sat down on a bar stool and made a show of peering around the kitchen. "Where's Boze? Figured he'd make you waffles or something man, I'm starving."
Mac smiled and shook his head. "Bozer had to go to the lab early, said he needed to talk to somebody about something and check on his molds."
Jack, disappointed, slouched a little on the stool. He looked up at Mac and pointed towards his shoulder. "You need a hand getting back into the sling?"
Mac shook his head "no, thanks though. I got it". He turned to go back to his room. "I'll be out in a minute." He smiled to himself and called over his shoulder, "waffles are in the oven, syrup's in the microwave."
Their first stop once they arrived at Phoenix was the med unit. Since they'd both received treatment before their flight home, this visit was more of a formality. But as with all doctors offices they settled in to wait.
Mac was perched on the exam table fidgeting with the splint on his wrist. Jack sat in a chair and reached around to pull a rolled up magazine from his back pocket. "Dude, relax."
Mac glared at Jack. "Easy for you to say, you're not the one with a messed up shoulder."
Jack knew Mac hated waiting and he hated doctors. "You're right, and I'm sorry man, but you might as well settle down. We cant go anywhere until we see the Doc, so just roll with it brother."
Mac started to look around the small room. He took in the glass jars filled with band aids, tongue depressors, cotton swabs and alcohol wipes. There was a box of medical gloves. Foam, hand sanitizer and a battery operated hands free paper towel dispenser. He started coming up with different things he could do with so much stuff. He looked at Jack. How the man could be so calm... It was frustrating. If they were being held captive in this room, Mac thought, there were at least 15 different ways he could escape.
As if reading his thoughts, Jack cleared his throat. Without looking up he said "Don't even think about it dude. Matty will just send your skinny butt right back here if you take off."
Jack crossed his legs flipping through his magazine. He turned the magazine sideways and held it up admiring the contents.
"What are you reading?" Mac asked suspiciously.
Jack looked up and grinned. He flipped the magazine around to show the centerfold picture of a cowboy riding a bull. "Professional Bull Riders" he put the magazine down. "These dudes are tough man. This guy right here" he held the centerfold up again. "He busted both his legs last year. Ended up coming back and winning a ton."
Mac shook his head and smiled. Relieved his partner wasn't looking at what he originally thought. "I'll never understand people that take that kind of risk for sport."
Jack laughed. "It's not sport man," Mac raised his eyebrows. Jack dipped his head "ok, it is sport but it's also their job. This is what they do for a living. Did you know that the guy that wins at the end of the year gets something like a million bucks."
Mac was surprised to hear the amount of the prize money. "Still seems kind of reckless."
Jacks lips pursed he tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. "You do realize we basically get shot at for a living right?"
Mac was about to reply when the exam room door opened. The doctor walked in and nodded "Gentlemen"
Mac and Jack both nodded and responded in unison "Doc"
The doctor went to the white board hanging on the wall. He pulled a set of x-rays out of a folder and slid them under the clips on the board and turned on the light. "Mr. MacGyver, I've taken a look at your x-rays and I don't see anything that Dr. Manchester didn't note." He looked at Mac. "I suspect you have a second degree separation of the A-C joint but would like to confirm that with an MRI. He reached forward and palpated Mac's shoulder and collar bone. Mac grit his teeth but didn't say anything. The doctor finished with his shoulder and grabbed his hand inspecting each finger then turning Macs hand over. "Any numbness or tingling?" Mac shook his head no.
"Squeeze my fingers." Mac squeezed and felt a burning sensation. He let go. "Any sharp pain or just some discomfort?"
"It's just a little sore" Mac replied.
The doctor turned and scribbled a note in Macs folder.
Mac was looking less than pleased.
Doctor Wexford looked from Jack back to Mac and continued. "If the MRI shows what I suspect as a second degree separation, you're looking at about 3 weeks of immobilization then a couple of weeks of therapy. If it shows a third degree, we can schedule surgery within the next couple of weeks. The wrist splint should come off in a week to 10 days."
Mac sighed. Three weeks was going to feel like an eternity. "Anything I can do in the mean time?"
Doctor Wexford shook his head. "Unfortunately for the shoulder, no. The best course is complete immobilization. We'll fit you with an immobilization brace before you leave today.
You can take it off to shower but I want you to keep that arm in a sling while you're not in the brace." He paused "you can strengthen your wrist by manipulating your fingers. I'll send you home with a therapy ball."
"No need Doc, just send him home with a huge box of paper clips" Jack said trying to lighten the mood.
The Doctor looked perplexed. Jack raised his hand "never mind"
Mac got up off the table "so, no field work for a month or so right?"
"That is correct" said the doctor.
"What about Jack" Mac said as he pointed at his partner.
Jack looked up surprised "what about me? I didn't do anything."
Doctor Wexford picked up Jacks file and thumbed through it. "Mr. Dalton did you lose consciousness at any point after the blow to the head?"
"No" Jack said defensively.
"Any dizziness, blurred vision, nausea?" The doctor continued.
Jack looked smug "nope"
Doctor Wexford looked skeptical and pulled a pen light from his front pocket. He placed a hand on Jacks forehead and tilted his head back. He shined the light in one eye then the next. He turned and made a note in Jacks file. "Well normally I'd order an imPACT test but I see here you've already taken a K-D test. The results were" He scrutinized the report "inconclusive." He looked over the folder at Jack.
Jack was smiling. "I told ya Doc, I'm fine. I'll take these stitches out in a few days and I'll be right as rain."
"Well I'd prefer it if you came into the office for that. In the mean time, no aspirin or anti inflammatories for a few days." He said matter of factly.
Jack put his hands up. "I got it Doc, not my first rodeo if you know what I mean." He looked at Mac and back to the doctor. So, we good here? We've got a debrief to get to in..." He checked his watch "fifteen minutes."
"You're free to go." He nodded at Jack. "If you experience any nausea, dizzy spells or insomnia, come back here and we can run some tests." He turned to Mac. "Mr. MacGyver, if you'll come with me we'll get that immobilization brace fitted."
Jack grimaced. He felt bad for Mac. Immobilization and MacGyver just did not go together. "Hey man, I'll wait out front for ya."
Mac sighed. "See you in a few."
Ten minutes later Mac walked out. Jack stood up taking in the Velcro bands and strap adorning his shoulder, chest and wrist. "Well that'll definitely keep your shoulder still."
Mac looked down at the brace. His displeasure evident. "Yeah, well... let's just get to the debrief and get it over with so we can get outa here."
"I'm with ya there, just have to make a stop after the debrief. Matty sent me a text" He held up his phone wiggling it from side to side. "Wants to see me. About what, I have no idea."
To be continued...
I would love some constructive criticism and or suggestions. As I said at the beginning, this is just a personal challenge to see if I could write legit conversations, actions etc. I know I'm not there yet based on all the other great stories I've been reading and I'm struggling to get there. Probably won't but any help would be much appreciated.
