Before Riley could react, Mac pushed her behind him and stood in front of her. While Riley thought it was sweet, it irritated her a little. Did Mac think he would be much protection, especially in his current state? She was about to shove him back onto the bed, when she saw Michael come into the room, his face alarmed.
"Oh no, Beloved, we would never hurt one so dear to you!" Mac looked over his shoulder at Riley confused. He closed his eyes as the motion made the room spin. Riley steadied him. Michael almost leapt across the room to help Mac back into bed before he fell. "Steady, Beloved. What can I do to serve you?" Riley blinked at the genuine distress in the large man's voice. Mac sat up and wiped his sweaty forehead.
"I'm fine." He said softly. Riley reached out and steadied him into a sitting position letting his hot body lean against hers. She winced at the heat and the trembling she felt.
"Can we get some water? With ice and a couple of towels."
"And some food." Mac added. Michael bent, smiled and backed out of the room. Mac leaned forward his elbows against his knees. He took deep breaths. He looked over at Riley and smiled weakly. "That's the first time they agreed to bring ice or fresh towels." Riley's eyes widened.
"What? Why?"
"I think they want my fever to get worse. I asked them for tylenol or something and they, very nicely, very regretfully say it's not allowed because of something called the Joining." Mac wiped his wet forehead with a soggy sleeve.
"These people are sick!" Riley snarled. Mac nodded.
"At least they let you stay." Mac breathed, relief in his voice. Riley realized how awful it must have been to be hurt, feverish and stuck among these people who think you're what? A messiah? A sacrifice? She sat down beside Mac and put her arm around his shoulders. He nodded his thanks. "So what have you been up to in this beautiful vacation spot?" Riley told him everything that happened. He managed to tell his story before Michael and the two women returned. Michael nodded at the women and they disappeared. They returned quickly with a stack of towels and sheets for the cot and a change of clothes and pair of sandals for Riley. They set out a small '50s TV table, bowed and left. Michael eyed the room then checked Mac over from head to toe.
"Rest, Beloved. Tomorrow, Father will speak to you at breakfast." Mac nodded. Michael nodded at Riley then left. Riley peeked outside the door until they were gone. She ducked back in to find Mac staring at two plates of some sort of noodles. He wrinkled his nose and covered his back up. He closed his eyes as if he were going to be sick. He looked at Riley.
"I wouldn't recommend it for flavor. The water is filtered here, but it tastes terrible, but you should eat something."
"So should you." Riley said. Mac sighed and shook his head.
"I don't think I could keep it down." He admitted.
"Right." Riley made a decision. She looked at the bowl sitting on the cot full of discarded bloody tubing and glanced at Mac.
"Blood transfusion, evidently." He held up his left arm and she could see a red raised area with red lines radiating from it. She grabbed his arm. He hissed as she touched it. Riley's eyes widened in surprise.
"That's hot! Must be-"
"The source of the infection, yeah I think so too. I'm not surprised. Actually I'm surprised it worked this well." Mac closed his eyes and hung his head. Riley took the bowl and left it on the floor outside the door. She went back in and pulled the cot off of the platform. She moved it close to the door. It wasn't much, but there was slightly more air. She crept out past the creepy silent sleepers and opened the screen door.
Looking up and down the small street she saw a few cult members still walking up and down the sidewalks carrying torches. Guards, she guessed. A woman with the same savage cut as all the others came toward her. Riley cursed and stayed where she was. The woman smiled at her, her face looked eerily blank in the flickering torchlight.
"Are you well? Does the Beloved need anything?" She asked. Riley shook her head.
"No, just getting a little air." The woman tilted her head and gave a small bow, continuing along the sidewalk. Riley looked at the door, she pushed it past the hinges and it stayed open. She went back into Mac's room to find he had slumped over to the side. His eyes followed her, but he was fighting to stay awake. Riley patted his shivering shoulder. "It's ok, Mac." He nodded and tried to smile, but was too exhausted. His eyes drifted closed.
Riley turned and put the sheet on the cot and changed out Mac's pillowcase. They had given her four bottled waters and two glasses of ice. Not much. Riley shook her hair back and wiped her forehead. Even with the door open, the room was stifling. She lifted the torch and walked out in the hallway. By the bathroom door she found another holder and set the torch there. She returned to Mac's room and sighed. Without the torch the room was already cooler. In the hallway, the flickering light was just light enough for her to see. Riley frowned it gave the room an unreality that she found disturbing, as if she were looking through heat waves, or a dream. She shook her head.
"Mac?" She said softly, shaking him. His eyes shot open and she felt him tense. "Easy, it's me, Riley." She could see the frightened blue eyes stared at her confused, then he blinked and relaxed. He managed half of a smile. She smiled back at him. "Let's get you out of those clothes." Mac raised one eyebrow. Riley rolled her eyes. "C'mon." She reached down and hauled Mac to sitting. He swayed, but after a minute managed to support himself on trembling arms. Riley leaned in and helped him out of his sodden shirt.
Mac's tremors quickly became shivers. His teeth chattered. Riley undid the soggy towel around his torso and winced as some of the blood dried cloth stuck to Mac's wound. Mac hissed in pain as she poured a little water on it and pulled at it gently. Finally it came off. Riley smiled at Mac who was taking steadying breaths. Riley looked at the gunshot wound her eye raised. In the dim light, it looked like it had been sewn shut by a machine. It was reddened, but not as bad as the transfusion site.
"How bad?" Mac whispered. His eyes seemed to glow like the moon in the dim light.
"Not as bad as your arm. C'mon." She held out an arm. Mac reached out and held on as she lifted him to standing and supported him as he swayed. After he swallowed and nodded, she helped him over to the cot. He moaned as he layed flat. He panted a few minutes before relaxing and smiling up at Riley.
"Thanks…" Mac chuckled. Riley stared at him.
"What the hell are you laughing at?"
"You might put Jack out of business…" Mac said trailing off holding his hand over his side and closing his eyes. Riley rolled her eyes, but found herself relieved that Mac could still laugh.
"We can debate that when he gets here and gets us out of here." Riley said. Mac didn't open his eyes, he only nodded. His eyes flew open when he felt her undo his belt. "It's alright, I just need to get you out of these pants. They're gross and have a bit of a funk." Mac closed his eyes. Riley wasn't sure if it was from exhaustion or embarrassment. She worked as quickly as she could until Mac was shivering in his boxers. Riley reached over for another sheet and covered him with it. She turned to the tray trying to figure out how to do what she wanted to do. She felt a hot hand grip her wrist and turned to see Mac's eyes looking up at her. She could tell he was using the last of his energy. She crouched down holding his hand in hers.
"What is it, Mac?" She said softly. His eyes danced with a bright light, Riley wasn't sure if it was from fever or tears.
"Promise me, if you get a chance to get out of here, you'll go with me or without me."
"Mac-"
"Promise! Please…" She held his hand in both of hers.
"I promise, but it won't come to that-" Mac sank back smiling. He reached up and touched her cheek.
"Thank you, Riley. You're a great friend...you...free…" She caught Mac's hand as it fell limply and his eyes sagged closed. She put it alongside him, bent and kissed his wet forehead.
"Dummy." She murmured. Riley knew that was a promise she was going to break. If they both didn't get out of this hell, neither of them would. She turned chewing on her lip. She went out into the hall and took the bowl into the bathroom and cleaned it under the hottest water that came out of the tap. She left the bloody tube and dressings behind. She filled the bowl up with the ice cubes and two of the water bottles. Riley fought the urge to dunk her own head in. She sat beside the cot and began to soak a small, clean towel into the water, then swabbed Mac's hot skin.
He breathed out, and turned toward the cold. Riley smiled. Mac was such a selfless person, it was nice to be able to help him for a change. She leaned him forward and swabbed his sweaty back. They might argue like siblings sometimes, and he drove her up the wall more times than she could count, but she had to admit, Jack just might be out a job. Riley smiled and eased Mac back.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
"Jack?" Jack snorted and jolted fully awake. He looked up into the well-lined face of Oliver Flint. Jack nodded and sat up. He blinked as he looked out the port window of the plane. He new that it was past daylight, because the sun had been peeping over the horizon when he'd awakened and gotten introduced to the entire team and educated on the gear he'd be hauling. With the asbestos suit, heavy steel soled insulated boots, oxygen tanks and mask he'd be hauling about 60lbs. He shrugged his shoulders placing the five water bottles, Oliver handed him in the circles for them on his pants. The gear felt strange and wrong, but the weight wouldn't slow him down, it really wasn't that much heavier than full tac gear. It was bulkier and harder to move in. He frowned when he was told he couldn't bring his gun, because the metal would get too hot and the ammo would cook off.
Jack shrugged. The team motto was improvise, right? The Flints had called in their full retired fire club, and family. Jack was surprised to see Freddy Flint walking toward him carrying his own gear. Jack grinned and pumped the man's hand.
"I thought you couldn't spare any resources?" He said. The man's eyes twinkled.
"Any official resources." He patted Jack on the shoulder, "I gotta go get shaved." Jack's eyes widened.
"The beard has to go?" The man laughed.
"It's ok in the office, but not in the middle of a forest fire." Jack felt his eyes tear up in gratitude. He was grateful to all of them, but it was the man's beard!" Seeing his sympathy, Freddy smiled. "Oh don't think such a thing, I'm really just trying to score points with my wife." Jack laughed.
"That should do it." Jack was relieved to have the man jumping in with them. The plan was for one plane to do a fire retardant run, to try to keep the fire back as long as possible. Jack, Oliver and now Freddy would be in a plane that would do one passover then jump as near as possible to the plane crash site and haul it to the canyon, or follow whatever other trail Mac or Riley might have left. Jack felt the Flints very obviously not point out the good chance that they were not able to leave a trail ever again, but Jack refused to believe that. He appreciated that even when they believed that was likely, they were still ready to go in for them.
After they found Mac and Riley and any of the Kooks that wanted to get away, On satellite they found that there was a long but narrow dirt road on the opposite bank of the small pond. They couldn't see close enough to know if there was a trail leading around the polluted water, or if it was even possible, but Rudy, their pilot, assured them he could land there. The rest of the team, seven grizzled veteran firefighters, eight younger active firefighters, and most of their wives, would land and set up base camp there, they would try to meet the others and help everyone back to the plane to get out of that hell.
Jack knew a billion things could go wrong, and knowing his and Mac's normal luck, would-but it was the best shot they had, and a small window to do it in. Jack blinked looking down at the vast wall of flame beneath them as they made their pass. It literally looked like a sea of fire, a living evil thing. He could see miles of black barren rubble left from the fire's wake.
"She's a lively one, isn't she?" Jack looked over at Oliver. The man's voice had a tone of respect and awe. Oliver saw him looking and smiled. "You have to appreciate the power of nature when she's on full bloom, Jack." His smile vanished, "Appreciate and respect, especially when she's being a bitch." Jack laughed and followed the man to the jump deck. He double checked his gear and felt Freddy check his back. Jack turned and did the same for Freddie. He looked at the other two and did triple check that everything was snug and snapped. They felt the plan bank as it pivoted in a gently sweep back toward the fire. Jack snapped down his goggles and attached his respirator. Oliver opened the side door and crouched. Jack moved to his spot behind him. He glanced over at Freddy who nodded at him.
Jack's heart thumped, no matter how many times he did this, he always felt the same adrenaline surging terror. He grinned embracing it. There was a buzz and a light flashed over the door. Jack let out a Texas whoop as he dove out of the plane and spread his arms and legs out. He winced, feeling the heat lick along his body seering any crevice that wasn't sealed. He knifed his body following Oliver's lead. They had leapt close to the fire, and had to use their air speed to get ahead of it quickly or else, Jack thought, they'd know how a steak felt on the grill.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Bozer smiled and threw the frisbee, the six red-headed kids yelled and chased it, trying to get it before Pele again beat them to it. Bozer looked up at the sky and shook his head. They'd only been gone two hours, and it was two hours to get to the fire...They could be jumping into that relentless inferno right now. Bozer closed his eyes and sniffed, fighting back tears.
Mac, Riley, Jack...they all might never come back. He took a deep breath and shook his head. He refused to accept that. Jack had tried to not wake him up, as if Bozer could sleep. Bozer had bounced out of bed, made breakfast for everyone, or helped he had to correct himself. Penny Flint had tried to include him in as much as the preparation and planning as she could because she knew how hopeless and useless he felt. Once the plane's were enroute, he had volunteered to keep the kids and grandkids busy so their folks could focus on bringing everyone home.
Bozer angrily wiped around an escaping tear and smiled as Pele again brought back the frisbee. Her whole body wagged in triumph even as her head kept turning as the frisbee dragged on the ground.
"C'mon kids, the dog's ahead by two!" Bozer plastered on a grin and shoved enthusiasm into his words. The kids squealed and they were off again. Bozer smiled sadly, even surrounded by all these amazing people he felt immensely alone. He'd hugged Jack. Jack had stiffened a second, like Mac normally did. Unlike Mac, however, the older man bent into it. Bozer had cried.
"It's ok, Boze, I'll bring them all back, I promise." Jack said softly. Bozer pretend-glared at him and punched him in the shoulder.
"You better!" He said. Jack smiled, before he turned to go. Bozer caught him in another hug.
"And you come back too." Bozer swore he saw tears in Jack's eyes before he put on those stupid yellow glasses of his (although if Bozer was truly honest, the former Delta did rock them.).
"Of course, I still have to finish our wilderness training."
"Hey! I thought you already passed me?" Bozer yelled. Jack waved without turning around. Bozer's sat phone ringing brought him back to present. He blinked not recognizing the number.
"Hello?" He asked. Only Phoenix knew this number.
"B...B...Bozer?" The crying girl's voice was easily recognized.
"Valerie? What's wrong? Are you ok?"
"N...no, I have to give my presentation tonight….did you find Mac? M...my dad's here, and he's trying….but….I know you're busy…." Bozer felt his heart melt. The girl reminded him so much of Mac sometimes. He chewed his lip. He knew Valerie could do her presentation before the judges in her sleep, he had been one of her many practice judges. But he also knew she needed someone in her corner, someone that could help like Mac...Bozer grinned, an idea forming. He may not be able to help Mac come back, but this he could do.
"Ok, kiddo, I have an idea…"
