Soooo… here's the next chapter! Sorry I've been so long, I've been trying to figure out where to take the story. Hopefully things will speed up after this (cross my fingers!). The beginning scene starts with them playing "cheat" in Mac's room. I think I've heard this game called by "BS" or "Bluff" too, so if you don't know what I'm talking about when I say "cheat", that's what I mean. Hope you enjoy and please read and review!

Chapter 21

"Cheat!"

Mac leaned forward and began to pick up the deck of cards. It was the fourth time Avery had caught him. But even though Avery was proving herself to be the "cheat" champion, Riley wasn't far behind. She'd caught Avery cheating at least twice now.

Jack and Bozer suddenly waltzed in the door, each carrying a cup of coffee from the hospital cafeteria.

"Yes! A good ol' game of 'cheat'. Did you know this puppy here is the 'cheat' champion?" Jack chimed, grabbing a seat beside Riley.

Mac let out a good chuckle as he began to sort his cards. "That's only because you actually cheated," Mac pointed out. He fanned out his deck in front of him and winced as he took in his newly adopted cards. "Jack would rig the deck so that he'd have fewer cards than everyone else," Mac explained.

Jack took a sip of his coffee and plastered the classical Dalton grin on his face. "It's called 'cheat' for a reason, man."

Bozer opened his mouth to say something, then stopped. "You know what, nevermind," he replied sarcastically

The corner of Mac's lips pulled up in a smirk. Only Jack could say something so stupid that Bozer would hold off on a witty remark.

"Anyways, the real reason I came over was not to play a game of 'cheat'. I actually wanted to warn y'all that Matty is coming down," Jack said.

"Warn? Is she not in a good mood or something?" Mac asked, narrowing his eyes.

Jack shrugged innocently. "Well, you know, two of her best agents were kidnapped and when she finally got them back they were a bit banged up. I'd say she's still a wee bit angry about that."

Jack squeezed his thumb and index finger together, motioning to Mac the extent of Matty's anger. Mac let out a chuckle.

"Thinking of Matty, she hasn't come around at all yet. Is there a reason for that?' Mac asked. He was trying not to sound offended, but he'd honestly hoped to see Matty a bit sooner. It'd already been about a week since him and Riley had been rescued and, as far as he knew, Matty hadn't made a single appearance at the hospital yet.

Jack frowned and exchanged a glance with Riley. Even though Mac could feel the exhaustion tugging at his eyes again, he didn't miss the look of concern on Riley's face when her eyes connected with Jack's. But Jack only shook his head slightly at Riley and plastered a grin on his face as he turned back to Mac.

Mac scrubbed his face in frustration. "Jack, I'm tired and I ache all over. But I'm not blind yet," he pushed. He raised his brow, waiting for an explanation.

Jack shook his head and ran a hand over his jaw. "Look, man. You need to focus on getting better."

Mac knit his brow together and searched the room for some support. But to his dismay, everyone cast their eyes to the floor when he met their gaze. "Oh c'mon guys. It's been a week. I'm practically fine besides the constant exhaustion. I'm sure Matty's absence isn't something that's going to send my recovery spiraling backward," Mac protested. Another scan of the room showed that there was still no one willing to spill the beans.

Avery cleared her throat and awkwardly got up. "I'm going to go find my dad. I think he wants to head home soon."

Mac scrubbed his face again, trying to convince himself that Avery was being honest and not trying to make up excuses to leave. Meanwhile, Jack shifted awkwardly, playing with the lid of his coffee cup.

"You up for another game of 'cheat' or should we call it a done deal?" Riley asked. She gathered up the cards and began to shuffle but her cast caused her to slip and drop a few of the cards on the floor.

"Jack?" Mac asked, completely ignoring Riley's not-so-subtle attempt to change the subject.

Jack rubbed a hand across his mouth and took another sip of coffee. "Look man, I already said-"

"I am focussing on getting better!" Mac shouted. He hadn't meant to get so loud but the minute he'd opened his mouth he couldn't help but practically yell. The drugs the doctors were giving him were throwing his emotions completely out of whack. And the fact that nobody was telling him why Matty hadn't come around to visit was enough to push his patience to the brink.

Riley bit her lip and Mac could see her resolve crumbling.

"Riley?" Mac pushed. He wasn't about to give up yet, despite the fact that his sudden outburst was making everyone uncomfortable.

Riley shook her head and a tear spilled over her cheek. Mac pursed his lips, suddenly regretting pushing her so hard. She'd already done enough over the past few weeks.

"Look, Mac," Jack began as the guilt took over. "Truth is, Matty's been by about every day this week."

Mac let out a confused laugh. "What?" He felt a wave euphoria wash over him before it was replaced by another bout of frustration.

From the corner of the room, Bozer flinched.

Jack tossed his coffee cup from one hand to the other.

"Those drugs they gave you, they're still causing some weird stuff to go on inside you, man. You've been having memory lapses and what-not. Forgetting whole conversations and stuff."

Mac was already shaking his head before Jack could finish. "Then how come I can remember every single day from the past week? How come I remember you guys coming to visit on Wednesday and playing a game of Monopoly on Thursday?"

Jack sucked in a quick breath and bowed his head. "But do you remember the panic attack you had yesterday or how you attacked one of the nurses the day before that?"

Mac opened his mouth to respond but found all the words had left his mouth.

Jack put a hand on Mac's leg and gave him a small nod. "Like I said, you need to focus on getting better. All these symptoms and stuff, they'll get better if you just don't think about 'em too much. Okay?"

Mac didn't nod or offer any response. He just stared at the thin bed sheet, searching his memory for any sort of recollection of the things Jack had mentioned.

"Is she ok?" Mac suddenly asked, referring to the nurse he'd supposedly attacked..

Riley sucked in a breath and leaned back. "The nurse was a 'he', actually. And yeah, he's fine. You only got in a couple scratches and a few punches before they sedated you again."

Mac pursed his lips and nodded, blinking in an attempt to clear the tears from his eyes.

The silence was broken by Matty Webber as she marched into the room, bearing chocolates and a box of paperclips.

"Hi Mac, how are you feeling today?" Matty asked warmly.

Mac just stared blankly at the Phoenix director, racking his mind for a memory. His chest began to tighten and he rubbed his temples.

"Don't worry about it, Mac. It's no big deal," Jack reassured.

"It is a big deal, Jack! What if this is permanent? What if I can't go one day to the next without forgetting what I just did? What if I hurt people and I don't even realize it?" Mac argued. His voice became louder as he continued.

"Mac, just calm down! It's not going to be permanent," Bozer tried.

"It's not?" Mac asked hopefully.

Bozer stumbled over his words as he realized the lie he'd been caught in. "Well, no. I mean, kinda. Like... the doctor said-"

Mac swore loudly, cutting Bozer off and sweeping the entire room in silence. Jack took the opportunity to give Bozer an angry glare. Bozer quickly held his hands up in defense but Jack ignored him and turned his attention back to Mac who was working himself up to another panic attack.

"Mac, it's going to be fine-"Matty began placing the paperclips and board game on the bedside table.

Mac placed the heels of his hands against his eyes. "Matty, I don't even remember you coming," he mumbled.

"I know. But if you keep thinking about it, you're just going to get worse," Matty replied.

Mac opened his mouth to respond but he was suddenly cut off by a gunshot from down the hall.