Episode 13: CO2 Sensor + Tree Branch
Riley looked up as Mac sat in the seat beside her.
"He still sick?"
"Yeah." Mac shook his head and glanced back at the bathroom door, "He says it's starting to slow down."
"How he's survived this long…" Riley huffed. Mac smiled at the worry under her gaze.
"Jack's gonna Jack." Riley smiled at him and nodded. After putting ear buds in, she returned her attention to her laptop, getting a jump on her report.
Mac gazed at the jungle receding below them thinking about the monkey running around somewhere below them with his knife. Mac grimaced at the pang of pain at its loss. Any trouble you get into that'll help you get out of. Mac's eyes flooded. Mac swallowed the tears.
The SAK had gotten him through a lot of troubles and saved his life more times than he could count. It hurt to lose, but it had saved the three of them. Mac smiled. His grandfather would probably have a belly laugh at how Mac lost it. Mac glanced at his watch. The flight would last another six hours. The watch kept perfect time, was reliable in a way his father never was. It was part of his history. Mac swallowed trying to loosen his throat. His knife was so much more. It was a part of who he was. Mac looked up as Jack plopped in a long seat across the aisle. His partner looked more than a little green and pale.
"You ok, Jack?" Jack gave him a painful look.
"I think my entire body has turned inside out." Jack mumbled.
"Anything I can get you, big guy? Tea? Crackers?"
"No!" Jack snapped, "Sorry, bud, I just feel like crap. Fucking monkey." Mac bit his lip to stop himself from laughing.
"I'm sorry, brother. You look so miserable." Jack didn't reply. Mac looked up to see Riley shoot a worried glance at Jack.
"I've had worse." Jack looked over at Mac, "I'm the one who should be sorry, kiddo. You lost your knife." Mac shrugged.
"It saved our lives." Mac tried for casual dismissal, but he could hear the creak in his voice.
"Still, sorry dude." Mac changed the subject.
"So you gonna go?" Jack huffed.
"Give it up, dude. I don't want to go to the stupid reunion. Everyone will mill around sucking in their gut pretending we aren't 25 years old." Mac raised an eyebrow at the self-pity. Jack met his gaze and growled.
"And I got sick eating that stupid green crap."
"This reunion only comes around once every five years. You may not make it to the next one." Jack glared at the blonde.
"Thanks Mac." Mac smiled mischievous.
"That's what you told me about my birthday last year." Jack opened his mouth to argue then shut it.
"Crap." Mac couldn't hold back his laughter. Both men were surprised when Riley snorted. She pulled off her earbuds.
"Well, Jack, I guess that means you'll be able to help us finish our project for the Corman challenge." Jack lifted his head and gave her a wide-eyed look.
"The robot roadwarrior of death thing?" Mac and Riley shared an amused look. Jack sat up his face a paler shade of chartreuse.
"I forgot about that. You know, Mac, your right. I think I should go to this reun-" Jack pressed his lips shut and ran for the bathroom. Mac looked after him.
"I am so conflicted." Riley said in a fond voice. Mac chuckled.
"Me too, I feel bad for him…"
"But then you think of him eating that melon or whatever." They shared a look and burst out laughing.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
"That's heavy man." Bozer said looking at Mac. Mac leaned over the lit table checking Dalton's Nightmare's plans for faults.
"Yeah, she denies it, but…" Mac shrugged. He again saw Matty's reflection in the video he watched. She denied it with such an honest face Mac almost thought he was seeing things. Then he remembered she was one of the best intelligence agents in the world and had been for a long time. He didn't want to believe it, but he knew he wasn't imagining things. Mac sighed and turned surprised to see Bozer still staring at him anger and concern on his face. Mac smiled.
"Besides I didn't lose it, I gave it away. It saved our lives. I think my grandfather would be proud." Mac wished his voice would listen to his brain instead of his heart. Bozer, of course, could see how Mac really felt about losing his SAK. Mac shrugged and walked to Riley.
"Boze, it's just a knife."
"What we use to carve the Christmas salami is just a knife. This was your grandpa's vintage…" Mac was relieved when Jill interrupted them.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
James LeRoy. Jack ground his teeth together. In his own way. Jack didn't hate him. Not really, but remembering the crowds chanting "Jimmy"...Jack growled staring up into the picture of his nemesis. It wasn't that Jack was jealous exactly. He just couldn't win. And he wanted to win. He was popular and did well in football and class, but every single time Mr. Perfect-hair had to get one point ahead, go one foot faster, get a grade higher...it was fu- annoying that's what it was. Homecoming king was the final straw. Lizzy Horton was homecoming queen and she was...Jack's heart still pitter- pattered with the teen hormonal memory. She was cute, no more than cute. She had been Jack's first big crush. He hadn't had the guts to ask her to homecoming, but if he was homecoming king, he wouldn't have had to would he? Plus he would prove finally that he was number one. He had imagined strolling with Lizzy to the football games, having her cheer his name… Of course Mr. Perfect-hair (my ass) had to win. They dated the rest of senior year. No Jack didn't hate the kid, man now Jack reluctantly admitted, but he sure would love to grind him into the dust and show everyone how second rate LeRoy was and had always been.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Allie Winthrop. Mac felt his heart thud in his chest. She was still beautiful, and that smile... Mac gritted his teeth. She made fun of his lack of sophisticated equipment like she always had and BRUNO was impressive. It brought back the shock of seeing her cruising through his plans after they'd been together. Memories of tender kisses and...Mac huffed. It was sad, they might have been something special. Any feelings he had toward her had turned bitter and his back still hurt from the knife she'd jabbed into it. Mac sighed as he watched her cross back to the CIA's tent.
"So how long were you together?" Mac's head whipped around surprised.
"Her? No we nev-" Riley raised an eyebrow shooting Mac a knowing smirk. Mac huffed.
"Ok, fine. It happened." Bozer's eyes widened and he grinned.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It wasn't like that." Mac couldn't quite keep the betrayal from his voice. "I liked her and I thought she liked me, right up until I found her looking through my computer."
"She looked at your plans?" Bozer's voice turned hostile. Riley looked over at the woman as if she were planning how to pull Allie's hair out. Mac smiled at the loyalty of his two friends.
"For some people winning is more important, I guess. "
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
It was so small, Jack thought as he stepped through the halls of his high school. Red, gold and black balloons and streamers hung from anywhere. Jack smiled. It reminded him of the pep rallies after they won the championships. He remembered the times he was carried on the shoulders of his teammates.
Jack nodded at faces he sort-of remembered. He paused in front of his locker, Mr. Smith's room-how many times did he serve detention. Jack paused and looked around him. Before good judgement kicked in, he did something he'd always wanted to do. He cut through the girl's locker room. Jack sighed. It was...boring. Other than the stalls and lack of urinals it looked exactly like the boy's only cleaner.
"Hey, Jack." Jack blushed as he turned. Lizzy Horton looked at him head cocked in amusement. Jack's mouth dropped open. She was heavier than she had been, but just as pretty.
"I'm sor-Uh, I forgot…" Jack sputtered. The slamming of two of the stalls proved a welcome distraction.
"Mom! When are we…" Twins, adorable blond twins. They skidded to a stop beside Lizzy. They paused and gaped at Jack. Lizzy put a hand on each shoulder.
"Mom?" Jack asked.
"Oh yes, these are only two of my seven." Jack's head leaned forward.
"Seven? Holy crap." He blurted. He turned to look around him. No other munchkins were in sight.
"Chaniqua, set up a big sleepover in the cafeteria. The others are there."
"She wasn't head of the FFA for nothing." Jack managed. Lizzy laughed the same laugh that had given Jack the faints.
"You look good, Jack." Lizzy said. Jack looked deep into her green eyes. His heart still pitter-pattered.
"How's Jimmy?" Came out of his mouth. Jack's stomach churned. Why the hell did he ask that?
"I haven't seen him yet. Charlie's getting the others set up in the caff." Jack felt a sinking in his heart.
"Charlie? Charlie Wiseman?" Lizzy grinned.
"Yes, he's a great husband. He's the local division head of Eggleton meats out of Dallas."
"Of course he is." Jack gritted. Charlie, captain of the chess team got the homecoming queen? His homecoming queen? Jack forced a smile back on his face.
"Lizzy, it's great to see you, but-"
"I have to get the girls settled anyway. Take care, Jack." Jack watched her leave with her chattering mini-me's feeling the sadness of being old. He turned and walked out into the gym. The druggie click, still looking as high and sloppy as they always did, whistled at him as he walked by. Jack glared at them. They shrank back. Jack smiled. He still had it. Jack's step had a bounce in it...until he saw Mr. Perfect-hair, Mr. Still-perfect-in-everyway head towards him.
"Jack!"
"Jimmy." Jack narrowed his eyes, the other man's name coming out like a threat. Jimmy balked a second then held out his hand. Jack forced himself not to crush the man's knuckles or give in to the impulse to hit him with a knuckle-sandwich.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Bozer glared at the back of the woman's head as they drove through the military base. He remained silent since Mac had built the CO2 sensor, but his teeth ground together loud enough he was surprised Mac didn't hear it. He couldn't help but snark at the witch. Mac played it off easy, but Bozer could see the pain of Allie's betrayal. No one messed with his bro, no one. Especially someone dumb enough to build a killer robot. Probably used Mac's specs for it too, except the whole going rogue and killing people part . Nothing Mac touched would ever do that.
Boze could see Mac softening as he talked to Allie. Boze might have been worried if he didn't see equal amounts of suspicion and coldness in the blonde's body. Mac still cared for her, but didn't trust her as far as he could throw her. Just the way Bozer wanted it. His best friend didn't need any more hurt, especially after Zoe.
Bozer's heart caught in his throat as the satellite dish stopped buzzing. He watched in horror as the door closed on Allie (part of him did think it served her right). BRUNO rotated its turret. Bozer almost lost control of his bowel and bladder looking down the barrel of a tank gun aimed his way. Then the bulky vehicle revved and backed up toward Mac. Boze rose in his chair.
"MAC!" he screamed. Mac hopped on the bumper and climbed up the short hood of the van. Mac's body against the windshield blocked Bozer's view but he couldn't ignore the earth cracking smash of the impact. Bozer grabbed the wheel with white knuckled fists to prevent himself from flying out the windshield. Mac had no such protection.
The blonde flew forward slamming into the back of BRUNO with a solid thump. He bounced back landing hard on the wrinkled hood of the black van. Mac rolled and tumbled to the ground as BRUNO sped off.
Bozer jumped out of the van.
" Don't be dead! Jack'll kill me!" Bozer mumbled. Mac laid sprawled unmoving on his side. Bozer slid to his knees. His advanced first aid training clicked. Bozer checked over Mac's back and neck before log rolling him onto his back. Mac groaned and his arms lifted aimlessly as if to push BRUNO away.
"Easy, Mac. Don't move." Mac's blue eyes cracked open and stared at the clear sky above them for a long minute. Bozer didn't find any broken bones, but Mac gasped in pain when Bozer checked his knees. His pants were torn and blood ran freely down calf. They were already swollen.
"Ungh...wha…?" Mac's eyes slowly focused on Bozer. It took almost a full minute before he bolted upright. Bozer reached out to grab his shoulders. Mac's breathing hitched in pain and he rolled forward.
"Dammit." Mac growled.
"What hurts? Spine? Skull?" Mac looked up at Bozer as he pushed his hands away.
"I'm fine."
"Mac-"
"We have to find a car. Help me up." Bozer opened his mouth to protest. Mac gave him that look. Bozer shook his head and pulled Mac to his feet. He held on as Mac fought to keep his feet. Mac stood up and nodded as he scanned the area around them. A rest area was a couple hundred feet down the road. Before he could say anything, Mac took off.
"Son of a bitch!" Bozer took after his friend with a new sympathy for Jack. Even after the wreck, Mac flew down the road running like a damn deer. Bozer knew his best friend had slipped into his razor vision. Everything disappeared except his goal of saving Allie. Mac had always been intense, but since Zoe...Mac was unforgiving of himself and pushed far past any logical weaknesses.
Bozer puffed as he caught up to Mac who stood beside an IROC Z. Boze had a minute to admire the classic before Mac smashed through the window with his elbow. Bozer's eyes widened. Mac's face was angry, determined. Bozer winced as Mac brushed aside the broken glass with his bare hands. Did he have a busted elbow? Cut hands? Bozer had no time to check as Mac hopped into the driver's seat.
"Hey, she's going to be alright." Bozer offered as he handed over his credit card.
"Damn right. I lost Zoe, almost lost Cage, I'm not going to lose anyone else." Bozer didn't like the degree of self revulsion in his best friend's voice. Bozer didn't have time to offer any support as Mac revved the engine and sped down the road. Bozer tried to see how fast they were going, but the speedometer was buried. The highest number was 110 mph. Holy shit.
Mac showed no fear, only determination. His mask cracked when a plume of black smoke mushroomed over the hill.
"Matty, was that-"
"No, BRUNO just took out a military stop-post." Mac nodded. His cheek flinched as he sped through the debris field. Bozer closed his eyes as he white knuckled his seat. Then they were tearing down the road again.
"That's insane." Bozer said looking over at Mac. Mac's face was hard. Bozer felt a black hole open in his gut. Of course Mac was going to do it. Boze felt ashamed when he didn't even offer to take Mac's place. That was replaced with terror as they switched seats. Bozer's hands sweated as he gunned the car. Mac climbed out and jumped to BRUNOs side. Bozer kept speed dry-mouthed as he watched Mac slam into the side of BRUNO. Bozer gasped when Mac almost fell off, staying on only by grabbing a tiny TV antennae. Mac wore an expression of pure agony as he pulled himself to the roof.
"Ok, Boze, get clear." Mac breathed.
"No, I'm-" Bozer wanted to support his friend. If Mac fell maybe he could do something.
"Get back to base, now!" Matty snapped. Bozer sighed and slowed. He took the next exit after one last worried glance back at his best friend.
Mac couldn't hold back a yell as he forced his knees to move. His back, neck...hell, his everything hurt like hell. Mac shook it away and focused on the tiny antennae tearing into his hand. It was his only hold. He leaned over the side of the vehicle and frowned. Of course the flash drive wouldn't fit in the air vent, why should anything ever go easy?
For the hundredth time, Mac wished Jack was at his side. At the moment, Mac corrected himself, he wished Jack's phone was in his hand. He always used Jack's phone because a) it was fun, b) Mac had a habit of tinkering with his own which had left them without a phone on a few painful missions, c) it got back at Jack for never letting Mac drive, and d) it was fun.
Mac winced at the crack of his phone. He breathed out in relief when Allie managed to pluck the flashdrive. Mac looked up to see the triangle of F15s bear down on them. He winced as they began their firing run. Mac's heart stopped; then BRUNO stopped. For a few seconds, Mac stared at the ground dazed. They'd done it. He shook himself awake.
"Matty, BRUNO is dead, cancel the planes!" When the jets roared past them, Mac collapsed onto his back. He closed his eyes breathing through the pain. Son of a bitch, they did it.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Mac yawned as he rose the next morning. He shook glitter out of his hair. He'd left the decorating to Jill, but had forgotten to tell her no glitter. It was the devil's dust. Mac would be finding it for years to come. It was worth it though. Mac grinned remembering the look of joy on his partner's face as he received the crown. Mac moaned as he stood. Oh he hurt. His hurts had hurts. He'd managed to escape a trip to medical thanks to Jack's party. Jack said he'd given the party on purpose. Mac had taken the good natured ribbing. He hadn't...well not entirely.
Mac stumbled to the kitchen. Bozer hadn't come home last night. Mac shook his head. Maybe he got up the nerve to ask Chelsea in medical out. Mac held his lower back as he bent to pull out OJ. He wobbled over to the table. Bozer had brought in yesterday's LA Times. Mac took a sip and rubbed his eyes. He always got ribbing for reading paper papers, especially from Riley, but there was something about actually holding news in his hand. It made it more personal somehow. He flipped it open drinking half of his juice in one gulp. Besides, he used it to start the fire pit, or to prevent oil dripping, or…
"Hey, bro!" Mac looked up and set the paper aside.
"Hey, Jack." Mac eyed the donuts under his partner's arm. Jack grinned and sat across the table. Mac folded the paper and set it aside. Jack opened the box and for a few minutes there wasn't a sound except munching. Mac met Jack's eyes warily. Jack's eyes were narrowed and he was doing that intent scan thing he did whenever Mac got hurt.
"I'm fine." Mac said firing the first salvo. Jack reached for another donut.
"Sure, but we're still going to medical. Matty gave us the rest of the day off."
"For reports." Mac's gaze turned glum. Probably the only thing he hated more than going to medical was writing reports. Jack snorted his agreement around a puff of sugar.
"Probably, but we'd still be able to go to see that exhibit at CaMS." Mac leaned back crossing his arms, suspicious.
"You hate going to the science center." Jack shrugged.
"Maybe you're rubbing off on me." Mac laughed.
"You want to see Heroes of Action at the IMAX." Jack widened his eyes.
"Whaat? That's playing now? I had no idea." Mac rolled his eyes and finished his juice.
"I'll go get ready."
" 'k." Jack settled himself in to watch Netflix. Mac was putting on clean clothes when he realize he'd been played. Go to the museum. Right. Mac sighed as he tossed his clothes in the hamper. The trip would be perfect if he wasn't forced to go to medical. Somehow this was Sally's doing. Mac knew it.
Mac lifted the SAK Jack had given him with a smile. It didn't fit as comfortably as his old one, but it had a lot of new gadgets that would come in handy. Mac felt a pang of loss, but it was buried under waves of affection for his brother/ sometimes helicopter parent. Not that he would ever tell his majesty King Jack.
Behind the two men on the table the newspaper flapped in a breeze revealing the page one exclusive:
HORRORS IN SOUTH AMERICAN JUNGLE
Several guests at a hotel in the jungles of Ecuador fled after five rooms were destroyed by what witnesses are calling " a savage monkey with a butcher's knife." Officials are trying to calm the populace by explaining it as a tourist's joke. This had done nothing to calm the panic of the entire city as they wait for the next "demonic attack." Several animal organizations report that this is only the beginning as "the American government has been experimenting with training monkeys to kill for decades." Michael Rodriguez, head of the Ecuadorian national security council reports an investigation is on the way. No official report has been given by the American Embassy. An anonymous source states, "It's the start of friggin' Planet of the Apes, man."
