Nature v/s Nurture
By: Ridley
A/N: Thank you to all those who have kindly reviewed and messaged. Your thoughts and comments are so appreciated and honestly make my day. Thanks to Mary, who made this much better than it would have been otherwise.
RcJ
"Entanglement theory is based on quantum physics. Pyhysicists have learned that two particles-like electrons-that have interacted in the past but moved on will still behave as if they're the same entity. Meaning, if you change one, the other changes instantly and to the same degree. They are always connected. Always in tune with each other, no matter where they are." –'The Ones We Choose', Julie Clark
Jack Dalton's head pounded with the fast rhythm of his heart. It was a hell of a painful drum solo and he squinted with watering eyes against the shafts of light which felt more like solar flares burning his retinas than the mere spears of sunlight streaming through a barred window above him. His stomach churned, threatening to empty its contents which would prove even more unpleasant than usual considering his mouth was covered with Duct tape. The former Delta didn't relish asphyxiating his own vomit. He focused on taking slow, calming breaths. Concentrating on the stifling, stale air he could inhale instead of letting the panic train runaway with him as feelings of disorientation and confusion joined in the with physical assault on his senses.
The art of not completely losing one's shit when an op went sideways and a guy found himself bound and gagged in an unfamiliar setting was all about perspective, the ability to see the positive in any and every situation. As Jack was fond of saying, a man had to have a bit of a sense of humor about such things. Take for instance he was now obviously laying on solid ground, albeit a dank and dirty one of poorly set cement- which had not been the case the first time he'd pulled himself from a drugged stupor.
The gentle hum of a plane engine, the tell-tale sway of a bird in air, had heralded Jack's initial return to consciousness. As much as he loved to fly, being bound and gagged in a cargo bay was never a good means of transportation, even for a seasoned traveler like himself. If Jack had his druthers, he'd always choose the cockpit every single time, but he didn't mind being a passenger if he trusted the pilot. As it was, considering the last face he remembered seeing before taking his impromptu nap was Jonah Walsh, he had serious doubts about who was at the helm. The thought of Jonah Walsh had Jack trying the binds that were so tight they'd almost cut off the blood-flow to his hands. Still, being grounded gave better odds of escape. There was at least no complications of compromised air pressure or securing a parachute on the way out the exit.
On another good note, Jack was still breathing. No one had put a bullet in his head as of yet, although he supposed if that had been the objective old Jonah would have finished him up after effectively running him off the road. Jack blamed the fact he'd left some skin on the steering wheel of the Shelby on letting Walsh gain the upper hand. The man, to his credit, could move swiftly for someone so damn big, a monstrous linebacker who could also gracefully run the ball, like some freakish hulking gazelle.
Jack had barely managed to escape his seatbelt and half stumble, half fall out of the Shelby when the bastard had been on top of him, literally. It might not have been a fair fight, but Jack hadn't let that stop him from giving just as good as he got. Almost. He at least hoped the traitor's broken nose was smarting like hell. Jack would have added a fractured jaw and possibly a crushed windpipe if one of Walsh's buddies hadn't stepped in and shot Jack point blank in the upper right chest. Not with a bullet. But with a huge ass dart. Another positive, Jack supposed, although he could still feel the throbbing in his shoulder even as the drug contained in the cylinder wreaked a certain kind of havoc that had him thinking a quick kill might have been a whole hell of lot easier on him in the long run. He tried to twist his hands, anything that would give him a little leverage to get the blood circulation flowing again.
"Look who's finally awake." Jonah Walsh's voice was annoyingly loud in the small block box and irritatingly chipper. Jack would have liked to have had time to get his hands loose from the biting binds, or at the most had a chance to orient himself before his bastard of a host showed, but it seemed luck was not his lady today as the disgraced agent appeared as if out of nowhere hovering above him. Apparently stealth was also one of Jonah's skills, or maybe he had the ability to transmogrify, or whatever the hell you called it when a guy could de-materialize and then reform himself in a different location. Or it was possible Jack was still a bit loopy.
He hoped the glower he sent the man conveyed the giant 'fuck you' he was mentally projecting. Despite Mac's vehement assertion that things like transmogrification and other such paranormal activity weren't at all possible, just once Jack wished he could manage some Jedi mind powers as James MacGyver's former partner took a knee in front of him, amusement making the corners of his mouth twitch. He supposed the bandage across the man's nose, the trace of faint bruising underneath each eye would have to suffice.
"Use your words, Jackie boy. You're liable to break something thinking so hard." Jonah reached out and jerked the tape from Jack's mouth in one smooth motion that had him grinning broadly and Jack unable to hold back a hiss of pain.
"Sorry," Jonah said, snidely, obviously not one bit repentant. "Better to remove the Band-Aid quickly you know. It doesn't hurt so much that way."
"Glad you're concerned." Jack managed hoarsely, after swallowing down a good bit of bile. He coughed, fighting hard to not make a sound when the slight movement sent another stabbing pain through his head. His throat felt like he'd been gargling sand and he longed for some water even if the thought of consuming anything had his stomach churning like the fancy bullet blender he'd bought Bozer for Christmas last year.
As much as Jack might have liked to have thrown up on Walsh's boots, figuring projectile vomiting was a super power in its own right, he really didn't cotton showing the bastard anymore damned weakness. Trussed up like a roped calf and lying at the man's feet was bad enough without Jack tossing his cookies like some rookie. Instead he clenched his jaw, swallowed again, his heart pounding, before managing a smirk of his own. "Wasn't so sure you had my best interest at heart, pard, not when you ran me off the road, drugged and kidnapped me."
"Damned if I don't like you, Dalton." Jonah still had a grin on his face. He took a seat on the floor, surprising Jack again by being able to cross his legs like he did yoga every day instead of bashing heads for sport. "I didn't think I would, honestly. But under other circumstances I think we'd get on like wildfire."
"Forgive me if I have a hard time buying that." Jack managed to lift his head off the floor and give it a little shake. "Attempted murder and shitty accommodations aside, there's the fact I can't move my hands or feet –" He wrinkled his nose. "and I'm pretty sure I might have pissed my pants at some point. I've never been much for masochism."
"Sorry about that. It was a long flight to our little piece of paradise. And you did break my nose, after all." Jonah scratched his bearded chin, looking thoughtful. "We might have overdone it on the tranq, but you're about as tough as a bull elephant. We'll scrounge you up some clean drawers, maybe even manage a more comfortable stay once you and I get a few things straight."
"If you'd wanted to chat, we could have done that at my place. Even had a couple of cold beers." Mac had always told Jack he had a poor grasp of survival instincts when it came to the concept of holding back and keeping his mouth shut when it was clearly in his best interest to do so. Jack really couldn't help it. Something about being at the mercy of the enemy inspired his inner bastard, spurred his lips to run free like a goosed bronc. He cocked a brow at Walsh. "You could have shared how it felt to not only stab your partner in the back but also sell out your country in the process."
"Sounds like Jimmy has been filling your head with all sorts of sad tales about me." Walsh didn't quite mask his flash of temper and Jack felt a momentary satisfaction. It wasn't the rush like making contact with a good head butt would have brought, but he'd take whatever ground he could get. Jonah's eyes hardened, his mouth thinning. "My old pal has a flare for the dramatic, especially when someone disappoints him or doesn't live up to his expectations. Tell me, is little Angus a self-righteous, sanctimonious sonofabitch like his daddy? You know the old saying about the apple not falling far from the tree."
Jack quickly saw that Jonah could use his words too. He liked to believe he was quicker with schooling his reaction to the verbal jousting though and willed a neutral expression which was made even harder by the painful angle he was holding his head. "Hell, man, in this case I'm not convinced the fruit came from the same damn orchard."
"I don't know Dalton," Jonah sighed, propped his elbows on his knees. "James MacGyver is typically the smartest man in any room. Except maybe when your genius partner is present. Despite his ditching the kid early in the game, Jimmy seems to have imparted his share of smarts, maybe even a bit of his what I used to call his fondness for only seeing a situation in black and white." The old, dark amusement was back on Walsh's face. "Let's be clear. I'm not talking about him being color blind."
"Whereas as his partner, you didn't mind some fifty shades of gray." Jack would just as soon shift the conversation away from Mac. He had done a little research on Jonah Walsh and James MacGyver since he'd had a fair amount of spare time since quitting Phoenix. Riley had used her magic fingers and garnered him their personnel files. Their two man team had been impressive back in the day, but Jonah had also had his shares of reprimands and warnings.
"Hell, Jack-can I call you Jack- why do you think he picked me? It's easy to walk a straight line when the guy covering your six has no qualms about walking outside the boundaries. Surely you get that." Something dark twinkled in Jonah's eyes. "Why do you think he picked you for his precious progeny? You sure as hell ain't no Boy Scout."
"Boy Scout or not, maybe James figured I'd not stab his son in the back the first opportunity I got."
Jonah laughed, rubbed his beard again. "Well, now, I see why you'd like to think that, but FYI we chose you long before me and Jimmy had our parting of ways."
"We?" Jack winced. Once again he felt bile rise in his throat but this time it was for a completely different reason than the concussion and drugs lingering in his system.
"Oh yeah, I had a hand in it. I was on the shortlist of people James MacGyver would ever trust with something so important. In fact, I put the initial candidates together when baby boy's training officer got himself blown to hell and back by The Ghost. James wanted backup in place so I handpicked the top three potential targets as they were." Jonah tilted his head, unflinchingly holding Jack's gaze to prove he wasn't bullshitting. Jack's stomach lurched again at the knowing gleam in the other man's gaze, the thought that Mac's dad had played such a heavy-handed part in how they were brought together. If his partner had gotten wind of the truth, then Mac running off to Puerto Rico-far away from Jack- suddenly made a whole different kind of sense.
"Don't look so gutted, Jack. If it means anything, you weren't my first choice. I liked your sniper skills and the all around bad-assery vibe was undeniable, but I wasn't convinced General Perseus Hammond was going to be so agreeable to what James was suggesting. Then there was your big old Texas sized heart to contend with. Even a record of kills like yours couldn't taint the hero-complex everyone you served with seemed to see. Besides I had my eye on a Navy SEAL with a little more bite." Jonah threw his hands in the air in a 'what-was-i-supposed-to-do-gesture'. "Of course Matilda Weber had to go and stick her cute button nose in things and well, James has always had a soft spot for that ballbuster."
Jack had a hundred new questions, first and foremost concerning the part his old CO played in what was proving to be one hell of a convoluted deception. His gut twisted nauseatingly at the thought of what The Hammer might or might not have known about this and if he and James MacGyver were on a first name basis. He refused to give Jonah the satisfaction of asking, instead going with the more pressing topic at hand. "Why the hell am I here, Walsh? What exactly is it you're hoping for? An overdue thank you for the job security? Because I really would like to get out of these zip ties and into some clean clothes."
"I'm just trying to point out that we're being offered a rare opportunity, Dalton. You and me are the same. Us being such successful bad asses have let the MacGyvers be very good geeks. You keep little Angus safe, just like I did with his daddy. As a side benefit they get to save the world, while we also keep their delicate consciences clean." Jonah uncrossed his legs, kicking them out to cross his ankles. He leaned back on his hands as if he and Jack had just copped a squat for a congenial conversation.
"I mean it's easy to get all high and might about not using a gun when the guy bringing up your rear is armed for bear. A man can put a high value on all life as long as someone else is taking out the guys who have you in the crosshairs." Walsh met Jack's gaze, continuing before Jack had a chance to tell Jonah exactly what was on his mind. "Don't let James paint my decision to cut ties as mere greed on my part. After a while, I got tired of being the man's fall guy, especially when I didn't get a lot in return for the sacrifice. When he started questioning not only my methods and motives but my integrity as well, I figured our run best come to an end."
"I got to say as the guy currently stinking of his own piss and who has lost feeling in his hands and feet, I'm not so sure Oversight was wrong in questioning your moral compass, man." Jack narrowed his gaze at Walsh. "My money is on you being a complete sociopath."
Jonah let out a belly laugh, not offended in the least. "Says the man who'd snap my neck the first time I gave him half the chance."
"But I'm not the one trying to convince you of my sweet side." Jack growled, the pain in his appendages and pounding through his skull making it extremely difficult to keep his cool. "News flash. I don't have one. In fact, I plan on ripping your fucking heart out of your chest and shoving it down your throat before we're done. In the mean time I wish you would get to the point, unless you went to all this trouble to kidnap me just so you could play the misunderstood, misrepresented party in your and Oversight's pissing contest." The muscles along Jack's neck burned from holding his head up and he could still feel whatever was in the dart wreaking havoc in his system. "Are you hoping you two might get back together? Be best buds again? And that I could put in a good word like we're still in high school. I hate to break it to you but I could give a shit about you or Oversight at this point."
"But you do care about baby boy. My money says you love that kid." Jonah sighed as if he felt bad for Jack. He sat up straight once more, bringing his feet in again. He nudged Jack with his boot, shaking his head. "That unabashed affection and loyalty you feel for Mini Mac has probably had you in similar suck ass situations to this particular one. I get it, man. I do. I mean, all in all, I took about six bullets for Jimmy during the thirteen years we were in the field." Jonah lifted his shirt, revealing a rock hard plane of muscle and landscape of scar tissue. "Lost my spleen, and a kidney for my trouble. I was stabbed three times. And concussions…well, let's just say I'm not counting on being very coherent during retirement. I'm probably competing with some NFL players for the most scrambled neuro scans."
"Is this where I'm supposed to show you mine, because if you free my hands I'd be glad to give you a peak at what a real physique should look like…" Jack spat, working hard to get a devil-may-care-grin back on his face.
"This is where I explain that you don't have to take another hit for that skinny brat," Jonah interrupted, arching a brow. "It's not like I think you will do the sensible thing and listen to me, but as a fellow Delta I thought I'd at least give you the opportunity to go about this the easy way. Never mind that you're going to help me bring Angus MacGyver here, with or without your cooperation, the kid's going to finish the project his father started."
"You want Mac to complete the Super Soldier drug?" Jack actually laughed, although the thought of Jonah Walsh once more having Mac in his clutches released the panic train that Jack had managed to temporarily keep tethered at the station. He shook his head, although it made the room spin. A knifing pain ripped through his skull and suddenly there were two of Walsh. Jack blinked up at the big man, hoping to merge the twin wavering forms before him. The vision made him consider throwing up again. What the hell had been in that dart?
"I thought you had done your research, Johann Schmidt." Jack knew his partner would have rolled his eyes at the Captain America reference but he couldn't stop himself. Winter Soldier would have been a perfect codename for this op. "The one thing I can truly say that my partner inherited from his bastard of a father is the mile wide stubborn streak. No one makes Angus MacGyver do something he doesn't want to do. Trust me when I say that formulating some freaking drug that kills soldiers in the name of trying to turn them into more efficient war machines like some modern day Frankenstein is not something he's ever going to be on board with."
"His daddy was real indignant about KX7, too, especially after he saw it wasn't going to be as clean and neat as he liked things to be. James couldn't look past his own ego or that moral standard he likes to cling to. Helping soldiers stay alive was worth a bit of dirty work on the front end if you ask me." Jonah brushed at something on his jeans, looking completely at ease. "I hoped Angus, actually having walked in a soldier's boots himself might see things differently than his civie daddy."
"Dude, you act as if a massive heart attack and Bruce Banner fits of rage are mild side effects." Jack had seen the videos. It made what Steve Rogers and his pal Bucky Barnes went through look like a walk in the park. "I'm not sure any soldier could get behind what you've done in the name of promoting that drug, Walsh."
"So a few men have lost their lives." Jonah's voice hardened, all attempts at calm and collected disappearing under a red face and clenched fists. "If it makes you feel better, the test subjects had committed crimes of war. And bloodshed aside, we've made progress. You should understand better than most that countless men have given their lives in service of lesser causes, sometimes without so much as a fucking thank you for their sacrifice. At least the men who died to get KX7 shelf ready will serve an honorable purpose. Just imagine if this drug had been available or gone to the right people in the CIA or Joint Forces when James first dreamed it up, there's no telling how many men and women could have been saved."
"If the whole point of this conversation is for me to believe you want that drug up and running for any other reason than the fact it is going to make you a very rich son of bitch, you're wasting your breath." Jack suppressed the urge to try his bindings again. Why did all the bad guys love long monologues?
"You have a problem with getting rich in the process of helping our brothers in the fight?" Jonah gave a derisive snort in disbelief. "Even heroes like you can appreciate a good payday."
"I have a problem with men who profit from other people's pain, evil sonsofbitches like Luis Gomez." Jack had no doubt who was pulling the strings behind his abduction. Walsh might be wily, but he didn't have the kind of resources it took to stay off the radar as long as he had and then to waltz right back into the states with the whole CIA, FBI and Phoenix looking for him. Jack forced another grim grin. "I'm guessing he wasn't too happy with you after my boy torched that distribution center and mad scientist lab in Mexico."
"It's not me who has to worry about what James and his kid destroyed, Dalton. Luis is going to demand a pound of flesh, which will more than likely come from you. I did make Mr. Gomez aware of your rare skillset and he's been brought up on the fact that you're currently unemployed." Jonah once more got a dangerous gleam in his eyes. "He's a ruthless tyrant, I'll give you that, but he's also a very smart businessman. A sniper of your talent is too valuable to waste just so he feels vindicated. He'll surely have me hurt you for some deserved payback, but he won't order you killed, at least not until he gets what he wants."
"I gotta say that doesn't make me feel much better about his little visit." Jack wished like hell he could move his hands. He'd have kindly wrapped them around Walsh's throat and put him out of his misery. As it was, the best he could do was to provoke the man into finishing him off before he was used as leverage against his partner and James MacGyver. "As much as I appreciate the recommendation to your psycho drug lord of a boss, I was looking more at heading to Hawaii and opening my own security firm not that I'm free of Phoenix. As tempting as this offer to betray my country and become a complete sell out like yourself, I'm going to have to pass. You can take the job offer and the whole HYDRA serum scheme and shove it up your ass."
"I wonder if little Angus will be so quick to brush off this opportunity, especially when my sales team makes sure the presentation is unforgettable." Jonah crossed his arms over his chest, looking not one bit rebuffed and completely confident of his position.
"Mac's not impressed by a good pitch. Having spent all those years with James MacGyver you should understand that."
"Yes, but I'm guessing he won't be so quick to let his father's holier than though hustle get in the way of saving his best friend. He'll do what we ask and even convince his pain in the ass daddy to do the same. After all, you were the one who said he's not his father's son." Walsh leaned over Jack, one hand pressing on the other man's shoulder where the dart had gone in. Jack fought back the urge to groan as bruised, burning flesh reignited. "Angus is your boy, Jack, through and through. That's good news for me. In fact, I'm guessing the kid isn't just some pie in the sky pacifist. When his back's against the wall, he's going to react not so much like his daddy-who has left my ass high and dry before by the way- but more like the man who raised him, and I'm not speaking about good old Harry, rest his soul."
"You're giving me too much credit, Walsh." Jack growled, his voice strained and breathless. He was desperate to convince the man that he was wrong. The man Mac had become was partially his fault, and although he was proud as hell of the kid, there were things he wished he hadn't handed off. The instinct to do anything for the people you loved, even if it meant sacrificing your strong held beliefs and even your very life, being first and foremost in Jack's mind.
"I don't think so, Dalton." Jonah shoved off of Jack's shoulder with a malicious smile. "We both know baby boy will do whatever it takes to save you, even if it costs him some sleepless nights and a little bit of his soul in the process. Why not just save yourself-and the kid- a lot of pain and for once do things the easy way? Money and job aside, trust me when I say it's in your best interest to make sure the smartest man in any room is working on Mr. Gomez's serum."
Jack blinked hard, trying to slow his breathing now that pain wasn't lancing through his upper body. He would have welcomed blacking out if Jonah wasn't leering at him. "Oh yeah, why's that, tough guy?"
"Because, when Angus and his daddy are done perfecting KX7, you, my friend, are going to be the first lucky test subject."
Jack watched Jonah leave, noting the metal door he closed behind him, listening for the tell-tale tumble of several sets of locks being secured. He let his head rest against the pavement once more, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried in vain to free his hands while keeping his breath steady. Jack felt the warm blood trickle down his wrists, but gained no give in the binds. "Well, shit, Wyatt." He growled, blowing out a huff of breath. "This is so not how I planned on getting super powers."
RcJ
"Biology matters. It links you-definitively-to your family. No matter how hard we try, we can't erase what's already written inside."-The Ones We Choose, Julie Clark
"Riley, what do you have?" Mac sat at Carlos's table, staring at the computer set up that Bozer had brought with them, his hands restlessly moving, wishing for some paperclips. Riley was visible from The War Room back at Phoenix, the scene achingly familiar. She was sitting on the couch, fingers flying over her keyboard. Leanna was there, too, although she and Jill were engrossed on another computer, their heads bowed close. Mac could barely hear the murmuring of their quiet conversation.
He almost expected Riley to give him a typical, exasperated scowl, assuring Mac as she often did Jack that reframing and repeating the same question ten times would in fact not change her response. Riley held back on the snippy reply he could see forming in her dark eyes as she glanced at him from over the top of her rig.
"So far I have an extensive list of all the property holdings that Gomez is linked to legally, as well as another one of possible holdings purchased through shell foundations or with known aliases." Her eyes moved from Mac to the screen and back, fingers typing. "The man has an impressive portfolio."
"Did you apply the filters and specific parameters that I sent?" Oversight leaned across Mac's shoulder so he could be seen on camera. A scent of familiar woodsy cologne drifted to him threatening to open a Pandora's box of childhood memories. Mac grit his teeth, shoving thoughts of him as a little boy climbing into his father's chair with some book or another in hand aside. He resisted flinching when the man brushed against his back, his presence somehow magnifying the fact that Jack was painfully absent. "It was in my earlier email."
"I did," Riley nodded, albeit a little clipped. "I ruled out anything within the United States, as well as dismissing locations that would require more than one layover stop for refueling in a small plane."
"You were right about Gomez's last whereabouts being in his villa in Chile," Leanna spoke up, still looking a little unsure. Mac remembered being the new person on the team, the years melting away as he thought back to his first time in a much different War Room. Facing Patricia Thornton had been daunting then. He could only imagine having to report directly to Oversight. She lifted her heard, meeting MacGyver's gaze before focusing solely on her boss. "We have confirmation from the DEA that they had an agent with eyes on him less than forty-eight hours ago."
"Director Weber is in contact with several agencies with operations in that area. We're hoping to verify a more recent time line." Mac let his father speak, his line of sight drifting through the entranceway to where he could see Matty. She was on her phone, the tense set of her body proving she was most likely reaming someone a new one to get the information she wanted. It somehow lessoned Mac's anxiety a little. Matty might mystify him at times, but he knew she cared about their team, about Jack.
"So we should focus on South America holdings, Davis," James concluded, bringing Mac's thoughts back to the present and his focus to the computer.
"Is there anything in Columbia or Bolivia?" Mac asked Riley.
"No, but a few years ago there was an odd purchase of a wildlife refuge near Cusco, Peru on the outskirts of the Manu National Park. It seems, someone, obviously Gomez is passionate about the preservation of the spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear."
"The Manu National Park area is deep in the jungle, some parts only accessed by the river or air." The knot in Mac's gut twisted. Satellite imagery would be hard to obtain, and the terrain would be more difficult than that they traversed in Mexico on horseback. Mac and Jack had run an operation out of Lima when they first started working at DXS. At that time there had been an extensive drug trade, but falls in coca cultivation brought a shift to Columbia in later years. He sifted through the files in his memories for any significant facts. "I don't remember any mention of endangered bears."
"That's because Andean bears mostly stick to the Andes mountain range. They like cloud forests, even those that reach the snow line. I told you it was an odd purchase."Riley once more met Mac's gaze over the rim of her screen. "The bears aren't even endangered."
"But a humanitarian effort makes perfect cover for any sort of illegal operations." Mac ran a hand through his hair. "Is there any way to check the air traffic coming into that area, flight manifests?"
"The international airport in Cusco operates at a limited capacity because it's located in the center of the city, but still handles thousands of flights, Mac." Riley shook her head, fingers still typing. "Then you have all the private airstrips and illegal smuggling rings. I've been running facial recognition programs on all the footage I obtained from the Alejandro Velasco Airport and have come up with nothing."
"Jonah wouldn't go that route," James inserted, straightening. He thoughtfully stroked his chin. "He knows our surveillance capability. If this is our location, then I'd put money on a private strip up river, taking a boat to this supposed refuge."
"There is a road, at least," Riley confirmed. "Although from sat maps, I can't see much. I'm not sure it would truly qualify by our standards."
"We have a team near Miami," James spoke, although Mac wasn't sure if his father was musing out loud now or addressing him. "They could be to Lima in less than five hours. If they were to scout the area and give a sit rep back…"
"No." Mac shook his head, his hands clenched. "We need to be there. I need to be there. It's roughly seven hours for us from San Juan. In your private jet which I'm sure is waiting at the ready, probably less."
"Mac, we're not even sure this is where they took Jack." Riley pointed out, concern in her eyes. Mac knew she had to be just as worried about Jack as he was, but as usual was doing an excellent job of remaining unruffled. "Gomez has other holdings in other out of the way locations. Even if Gomez was last seen in South America, this is a long shot."
Mac knew she was right, but something told him Cusco was the place. He glanced at his father. "Put other teams on the top three locations Riley narrows down, but I want to be in Cusco by the morning."
"Do I need to remind you that you're no longer with Phoenix, Angus?" James frowned at his son. "We came here for intel gathering, not to invite a civilian to join us on a top secret mission."
"I'm going to let you go, Riley." Mac figured his voice must have sounded as dangerous as he imagined because not only did Riley stop what she was doing, but both Leanna and Jill were watching him warily when he took his gaze from his father long enough to meet Riley's now wide expressive eyes. Mac didn't give his teammate time to respond before ending the connection and closing the laptop. He stood, facing Oversight. "You really think you can keep me out of this?"
"I think I need agents on board." James folded his arms over his chest, his gaze boring into Mac's. "In fact, I'd have free reign of resources and man power on this rescue mission if I was going in to save one of my own people instead of a former agent, who left without much notice or any just cause. There are people I answer to. The position of Oversight doesn't give me carte blanche, son." Something close to smugness briefly crossed his face. "If you come back to Phoenix, I'll assume Dalton would also return. We'll consider his reinstatement a matter of record. That will go a long ways in explaining why I'm willing to pull teams from other missions."
"You're blackmailing me?" Mac couldn't believe what he was hearing. His father, the man he'd been dismayed by, yes, angry with, most definitely, but still very much the man Mac also revered and respected was proving himself to be quite ruthless in a way he hadn't expected. "Are you really using Jack as leverage to get me back under your thumb?"
"You working for me at Phoenix was never about you being under my thumb, son," James snapped, holding his hands up in a gesture of frustration. "I was trying to take care of you, damn it, to watch over you, just as I'm now trying to show you that you've let your emotions blind you to what's in your best interest. You belong at Phoenix. Your talents are wasted elsewhere. It's your legacy."
"If you really cared about what was in my best interest you would not be holding a job over my head at a time like this. My best friend was kidnapped by your partner. We both know why. He want's that serum and he expects by taking Jack that he'll force my hand, and therefore lure you back in." Mac snapped, eyes flashing.
"Then you understand even if Cusco is the right place, we're walking into a trap. We're giving Jonah exactly what he wants. The two people who could feasibly complete the serum," James said again in that matter-of-fact-tone that Mac had grown to detest. It was right up there with nails on a chalk board.
"I do, which is why I know if we send any other team in our place than Jack is as good as dead. Gomez will kill him or do worse things than put a quick bullet in his head." Mac fought to keep his voice even though what he really wanted to do was to scream. He wouldn't give his father the satisfaction.
"We can't give them KX7." James's jaw set in a very familiar fashion, a look of stubbornness settling like stone in his features which Mac instantly recognized. It brought a pang of sympathy for his old professors, Pena, and especially for Jack. His partner had been right when he'd pointed out the similarity between the MacGyver men, their tendency to think they knew every damn thing. "If that serum fell into the wrong hands…"
"We'd be dealing with our very own HYDRA," Mac finished, thinking of Jack's comparison to the drug his father had created with the one that created super soldiers in the Avengers universe. Just thinking of ISIL or al-Queda having access to such had him wishing he'd not let Kamila talk him into eating dinner.
"Who?" James frowned.
Mac waved his father's lack of cultural awareness away with a shake of his head, also dismissing his dark foreshadowing thoughts and his rebellious stomach. He sighed. "I'm not saying that we do that, Dad, but knowing KX7 is what they want, gives us the upper hand, unlike in Mexico when we were blindsided."
"Jonah's no Neanderthal, Angus. He's tactically brilliant and willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish any mission he begins." James uncrossed his arms, looking weary all of the sudden. "I know him, just as you know Dalton. Jonah won't stop until I've given him what he wants or I'm dead. I imagine he'd prefer both ends actually."
"Why is that exactly?" Mac stared at his father. He'd called Jonah his Dalton more than once. If that were true, then there had to be some shred of connection left between the two men. Mac had been furious with Jack in the past, understood Jack had probably felt the same of him at times. They'd come to blows more than once. But Mac loved Jack like a brother, counted that the feeling was mutual and probably returned three fold, just because Jack's heart was huge and his emotional range wasn't as limited as Mac's could be sometimes. Mac knew Jack would never willingly hurt him, and he would never intentionally cause harm to the man who'd been his fierce protector, partner and at times helicopter parent all rolled into one. There was a bond there that couldn't be tarnished by time or misunderstandings. Greed was powerful, but betrayal at such a level was hard for Mac to comprehend. His father was obviously hiding something. Which wasn't one bit surprising.
"It's extremely complicated," James finally admitted, raking a hand through his hair. "Things happened on a mission that might have been misinterpreted."
"Which means you aren't going to tell me."
"I might be convinced to share on the flight to Peru, but parts of it are classified."
Mac rolled his eyes. The man was relentless and he didn't know whether to be impressed or worried that he shared more genetic material with the bastard than anyone else left breathing on the planet. "I'll temporarily take my job back at Phoenix, and if it gets Jack back faster, I can give you my word that he'd do the same if he were here."
"Your word is good enough for me. Welcome back, son." James extended his hand, but Mac had a flash of Jack, his partner drawing back as if he'd almost touched a hot stove eye when Mac had revealed Oversight's other identity. He shook his head at his father, keeping his arms glued to his side.
"Be clear that I'd probably work for the devil, maybe even Apple, if it meant saving Jack's life."
"Duly noted." James still had the audacity to look pleased, as if getting his way was something he'd grown extremely accustomed to. "Then we should get on our way," Oversight was primed to take charge. "I have Bozer contacting the chopper to come get us and take us back to the airport. Matty may have more intel from the DEA."
"They're not coming, at least not to Cusco." Mac gestured outside, where he could see his Director and roommate now chatting with Carlos and his family. "Matty and Bozer can stay in Cusco. We need a basecamp in the city. Carlos is going to be our overwatch in the field."
Mac had already talked to his old friend when he'd explained exactly why his father had made the surprise trip to Puerto Rico. Carlos had insisted on being of any help he could, including donning his old hat of soldier. In fact it was Carlos's idea to be part of the rescue, claiming he'd made a promise to Jack to watch Mac's back, and he intended to do just that until Jack was once more in position to do so for himself. Ranger code would not allow him to break a vow to a brother.
Mac could see the rebuttal building in his father's dark eyes, but knew he managed a perfect imitation of the man's earlier stubborn glower, folding his arms over his chest and meeting Oversight's gaze. "You've never had a problem pairing soldiers and scientists before, Dad. After all, it was you who arranged for me and Jack to be assigned together in Afghanistan." Mac couldn't even help the slight smirk when his father flinched, most likely regretting that fateful move now that he had twenty/twenty hindsight. He was further emboldened when the older man sighed in obvious capitulation, realizing there would be no comprising with his son. Mac shrugged. "Besides, Carlos coming on the team shouldn't be a problem. From what I've seen today, you do seem to have carte blanche authority to hire agents on the spot."
To be continued…