I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update the story….I lost my way. I apologize for keeping you guys waiting. I hope you enjoy it!
Previously
"No problem. I don't think there should be, but yes, I'll call if anything happens. Now, get out of here!"
"Thanks Doc," Mac said gratefully. If truth be known, he was exhausted, all he wanted to do was sleep.
Chapter 11 - Which Way?
Pete drove Mac to the houseboat. If truth be known, he didn't want him spending the night alone. Mac tossed his keys onto the counter, dropped his jacket on the floor, and sat down heavily on the couch, cradling his head in his hands. Pete picked the jacket off the floor, and put the water on for tea, then sat beside him.
"She's going to be fine Mac, stop worrying!"
"If I hadn't suggested she go to counselling, if we had stopped to get something to eat first, if we had….."
"Mac! Stop! That's a lot of 'ifs'. What 'if' you hadn't been teaching that class? Had you ever thought of that? Then you never would have met Jena and gotten her out of her situation."
Mac opened his mouth to comment, then closed it when he realized Pete's point.
"Besides, If you hadn't stopped at the bank, the thieves would have gotten away and more people could have been hurt, or worse. You have got to stop blaming yourself for other people's actions!"
"I know that Pete! It's just I feel….well, I feel responsible for her getting hurt!" Mac explained what happened during the robbery, and how she kept getting used as a shield.
"Come on Mac! You know how those kind of people work - they'll always use the youngest or most vulnerable person in the room to make sure that no one touches them. I realize you're upset, but you have to get yourself together. Jena's going to need you to guide her through this. You've been through this kind of thing before, so you can share your experiences with her and help her sort through what she's feeling."
Pete got up and made the tea, while Mac considered what his friend had said. He knew he was right. Jena was going to need him, now more than ever. She didn't need him to fall apart on her now, not after all they've been through. He woke up from his train of thought as a mug of tea was placed in front of him.
"Thanks Pete….for everything. You're right about what you said. I appreciate you helping me see that. You're a good friend."
"No thanks is necessary Mac. You mean a lot to me, and I've gotten very attached to Jena. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you or her."
They sipped their tea in silence. Pete looked over and saw that Mac had fallen asleep sitting up, coffee mug in hand. He smiled as he placed the mug on the table, and covered him with a blanket, then retreated to Mac's bedroom.
The sun was just beginning to rise when Mac awoke with a huge kink in his neck, and feeling rather stiff. He opened his eyes to find himself lying on the couch rather awkwardly, then remembered falling asleep with the mug in his hand. He slowly got up and started the coffee maker, then jumped in the shower to ease his stiffness. By the time he got out, Pete was just finishing his first cup. He packed some clean clothes for Jena, then fixed himself a cup of coffee. Pete drove Mac to the bank, so he could pick up his truck. By 7:30, they met in the lobby of the hospital, and made their way to the elevators, with Mac eagerly wanting to check on Jena.
Pete and Mac emerged on the third floor, and headed straight for Jena's room. As they approached, they saw the doctor leaving her room, and he beckoned them down the hall into a empty room.
"What's going on? What happened?"
"It's nothing serious MacGyver. Physically, she's fine but she seems to be unable to speak. We haven't found any damage to the vocal cords, so we think it might be the trauma she suffered during the bank robbery, similar to post traumatic stress disorder."
"How long until she gets it back?"
"We're not sure, there hasn't been a lot of documented cases like this."
"So what do we do?"
"Encourage her, but don't pressure her into talking, keep her active in things, and just be there for her."
The doctor paused for a few minutes to let Mac process the information, then brought up the other issue.
"By the way I noticed from her file that she's had a rough time of it lately, has she been seeing a psychiatrist?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. She just started seeing Dr. Carol Lambert over at the Phoenix Foundation."
"Ah yes, I'm quite familiar with Dr. Lambert's work, she's the best in the business. If anyone can help Jena in her current situation, it's her. We've also had quite a time trying to convince her to eat."
"Yeah, she gets like that when she's upset."
"Well, once she's at home, I'd like you to try to get her to eat regular meals. As well, she's also still feeling the effects of the sedatives we gave her, so she might be a little giddy. Otherwise, you're more than welcomed to see her."
"Thanks Doc."
"I'll prepare the discharge papers and bring them to you to sign. Go ahead in."
Mac opened the door and saw Jena, nibbling at some toast with her right hand.
"Hi Jena? How are you feeling?"
She just shrugged her shoulders.
Mac bent over and gave her a hug then cupped her chin with his hand.
"I'm glad you're okay. I'm sorry for what happened. It's my…."
Jena grabbed the pen and paper, and wrote furiously…'NOT YOUR FAULT!'
(anything Jena writes will appear with single quotes)
"But…."
'Stop that! I don't blame you…why should you blame you! You tried to protect me! They ….'
Mac could see tears in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you…"
'You didn't really, I just don't want you blaming yourself. Just like I shouldn't blame myself…it just happened.'
Mac didn't know what to say to that.
"Looks like you could take a few lessons from her," Pete remarked.
"Yeah, I know. She's a smart cookie."
He turned and faced Jena.
"Feel like getting out of here?"
'Do I ever!'
Mac couldn't keep himself from smirking.
"Jena!"
"Mac! You can't blame her! How many times have you been itching to get out of the hospital?"
He rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"All right, enough already. Gee, you guys know how to gang up on a guy."
Pete laughed, and Mac wasn't sure, but he thought he saw a small grin appear on her face.
"I brought you some clean clothes to wear. The doc will be back in a few minutes with your discharge papers."
'Good! The sooner the better!' then slipped into the bathroom and got dressed.
"She seems to be in pretty good spirits."
"Yeah, she does Pete. But I have the feeling that she's just putting on a front."
After receiving instructions on what not to do with the cast,
Pete dropped Mac and Jena off at the bank, so they could retrieve the pick-up, then headed to the office to take care some business.
They were making good time on the freeway, and were almost at the turn off for the marina when the left front tire blew on the truck.
"Aw…..crap!" The truck lurched, and Mac fought for control of the truck, and managed to ease it over to the shoulder.
"You okay?"
Jena nodded, feeling a little shook up.
He got out of the truck to inspect the damage, and found the tire was flat. So he grabbed the spare, the tire iron and jack and started to work on it. Jena kept herself occupied by walking along the shoulder, listening to the sound of the traffic. She came across a black garbage bag, and was going to kick it aside, when she saw something move in it. She crouched down, and thought she heard whimpering. She tried to tear open the plastic, but her hand was still weak. She carefully felt the bag, and felt only a small lump, so she picked up the bag and brought it back to the truck.
"Jena? What is it?"
She shrugged her shoulders as Mac inspected the bag, then opened it. They heard a low whimpering, then saw a matted, dark brown puff of fur, with two sad eyes, looking up at them, and absolutely filthy. It was a Labrador Retriever, no more than four weeks old. Jena carefully lifted him out of the bag and held it to her chest. The puppy nestled into her, needing warmth. It started to suckle her fingers, and she grinned a little.
"What kind of idiot would do something like this !"
Mac checked the puppy over and found that it's front paw was injured.
"I think we'd better take it to the vet and get it checked out. What do you say Jena?"
She nodded in agreement.
Mac took off his jacket, and wrapped it around the puppy, then placed in back in her arms.
Twenty minutes later they were in the veterinary's office, watching the doctor tend to the little pup.
"Well, it's a female, and she seems to be the runt of the litter. She dehydrated, malnourished and her front, left paw has been severely damaged. I have to be honest, it doesn't look too promising for her right now - the pup has less than 20 chance of survival at this point. And she's going to have to stay here until she gets better."
Jena scribbled something down in the notepad and showed it to Mac.
'She needs a name!'
"Jena….."
'She'll make it….she's made it this far.'
"Jena….listen….please don't get your hopes up too high for the puppy. She's in really bad shape, and I don't want you to be disappointed if something happens."
'I don't care Mac. Please, let me name her.'
Jena looked up at Mac, with tears in her eyes. Mac almost laughed, she looked exactly like the puppy did. After a few seconds, he finally gave in.
"Hold on Doc, I think Jena wants to give her a name."
He looked at Jena.
"Clover? Why do you want to call her Clover?"
'After a four-leaf clover, you know, for luck!' she wrote. Mac smiled.
"I think that's a great name but…."
'She'll make it Mac…I know she will…..she's….well…..she can get through anything'
"Jena…."
Jena scribbled again on her notepad, and with tears in her eyes, showed Mac. 'She'll make it damn it! She has too!'
Jena turned around and stomped out of the of the vet's office. Mac ran his hand his hair, then gave a down payment on the vet bill, and found Jena waiting outside by the truck.
"Look, I'm not trying to hurt you, I just want you to realize that….."
'I know, okay! I know! I'm not stupid! Just…..she'll make it…..just wait and see!' she scribbled angrily on the notepad, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm not saying she won't, but….I don't want you to get your hopes up…..just in case."
She started to write something, then changed her mind and proceeded to walk away from the truck. Mac caught up with her and grabbed her arm, and turned her around to face him.
"Jena!! Wait a minute! Where are you going?"
'Anywhere but here….' she wrote.
"Look! I'm sorry okay! I didn't realize……come here," as Mac enclosed her in a hug. She fought against him at first, then finally succumbed. "I'm sorry….I didn't realize she would mean that much too you……"
Jena tried to speak, but couldn't force the words out. She scribbled madly in the pad.
'Don't you see…she's made it this far, after everything she's been through. God knows how long she was in the garbage bag, and she still made it! Just like….'
"Just like you?"
Jena lowered her head, then nodded.
"I apologize. I had no idea that she would mean that much to you. The vet promised me that he would do everything he could. Does that help?"
'A little, yeah. Thank you. And….I'm sorry…it's just that…..'
"It's okay. I think I'm beginning to understand. I'm sorry I didn't get it sooner. How about we go home?"
Jena nodded.
Mac pulled into the parking slot and found Jena asleep. He grinned a little, then softly shook her awake.
"We're home."
Mac grabbed her suitcase and walked her to the door. As soon as they entered, Jena went upstairs and laid down, while Mac started dinner. He made sandwiches, knowing she wouldn't have a big appetite. He brought hers up to the bedroom, along with a glass of milk, and woke her.
"Time for lunch sleepyhead!"
Jena just shook her head no, then turned over and tried to go back to sleep.
"Come on kiddo, you gotta eat. Please!"
Jena didn't move.
"All right, I'll leave it here on the night table. But, could you please eat something, even half of it. I don't want you to miss the camping trip because you're not eating," and Mac headed back down the stairs. Jena tried to sleep, but her conscious kept bugging her, she knew he was just trying to help. She really did want to go on the trip, so she sat up and started taking little bites of the sandwich.
Jena came down about two hours later, with an empty plate and glass.
"I'm glad you ate something. How's the arm?"
'Not bad.'
She sat down beside him, and helped him make the lists of what the students needed. Every now and again, she would offer suggestions. Mac looked up and realized that it was early evening, and heard his stomach growl. Jena smirked.
"Guess I should feed this thing huh? What about you, you hungry? How about some homemade French fries?"
Jena nodded.
"Good. Why don't see if you can't find something decent to watch on TV while I cook up the fries?"
They ended up watching America's Funniest Home Videos. Mac glimpsed an occasional smile from Jena, but she still didn't seem quite into it. Mac cleared the dishes when the show ended, and started to wash them. He had just finished filling the sink when he heard a gun shot resonant from the TV set. He saw Jena in tears, and quickly hurried over to her.
"Jena? What is it?"
She pointed to the screen. A C.S.I. episode had come on, and the opening scene was a bank robbery. Mac quickly shut off the set and held Jena, trying to soothe her sobbing. She settled down after twenty minutes, and he handed her some tissues to wipe her eyes.
"Why didn't you turn it off?"
'I don't know….'
"You know, you really haven't said very much about yesterday. Did you want to talk about it?"
'No.'
"I think you should, it might make you feel better."
'I said NO!' and she tried to get up.
Mac put his arms around her and held her.
'Let me go!'
"No! Not until you've listened to me. I know how you're feeling - the hopelessness of the situation with a gun pointed at you, the fear of not knowing whether or not they're going to pull the trigger. You're feeling a wide range of emotions right now, and we can work through it okay? But you're going to have to open up, and trust me...can you do that?"
Jena looked into Mac's eyes and nodded. She knew he was telling the truth, she could see it. Slowly she started to talk about everything that happened during the robbery….
Mac put down the empty mug and looked at the clock. It was 1:00 am. They had been talking for hours, and he could actually see the load being lightened off of Jena's shoulders.
"Are you feeling better about things?"
'Yes….thank you,' and reached over and hugged him.
"It's no problem. I hope this has helped you. But you understand, you still might have the occasional flashback, and if you do, I want you to talk to me about it. Deal?"
'Deal. Night Mac, and thanks again,' and quickly went upstairs and got ready for bed.
He sat on the couch for a moment, running his hand through his hair. This was a new experience for him…talking to a young woman about almost dying. He just hoped that it would be enough. He got up and locked the door, turned off the lights, and laid down on the couch to sleep. It was going to be a long day tomorrow.