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Chapter 7

Pain, pain, pain. Darkness, dust, hard surface. No air. Pain that consumed him. Swallowing around the dryness in his mouth and throat Jack tried to get some words past his parched lips. It took him a few tries until he was able to produce a sound. „Guys?"

„Oh man Jack! Don't do that to us ever again. We were afraid you'd kicked the bucket already." Ferraris voice shook with emotion.

„Yeah, boss you need to stay awake. How're you feeling?" Berkman queried.

„Just peachy. How long?" Jack wheezed.

„You've been out for about two hours. I managed to fix the light on my helmet. We've been here for about 11 hours already. I think I've heard some rumbling in the distance. With a bit of luck Babyface got out and they're digging us out soon. You copy boss?" Ferrari asked.

„Yeah, still here," Jack managed. He felt light headed and had a bad headache. When he considered the time that had gone by, he could add dehydration to his list. He had had a canteen with him, but he either lost it in the blast or it was buried underneath him. It didn't really matter as he couldn't move anyway. Concern about his friends made him muster the energy to speak. „You guys have water?"

„We're rationing it, still got some left. What about you boss?" Berk reported. „Jack? Jack you with us?" He added in a nervous voice, when there wasn't a reply initially.

„No water, can't move. Glad at least you have …" He trailed off.

Ferrari yelled. „Jack! Come on big guy, you mustn't sleep. Try to stay alert."

„Stop shouting, ma head hurts," Jack complained, but managed to shake off the cobwebs.

They continued talking. Well, Ferrari and Berkman spoke and Jack only responded with a single word, when they called out to him regularly. Jack was a guy who usually considered the glas half full. But right now he realized that the glas was almost empty. They couldn't get out on their own and if help didn't arrive pretty soon, he would go home in a box. At least Berk and Ferrari had better chances. They had water and probably no internal injuries. They were strong men, they could manage another day or so, but not the Delta. Jack could live with that. He almost laughed at that thought and rephrased the thought. Jack could die with that. His mind wandered to Riley and Mac. Maybe the blond wouldn't even be informed of his death and that was probably better so. He didn't want Mac to blame himself for something that was Jacks own fault. Riley. If he weren't so dehydrated he would cry. God, he let her down so badly. It wasn't right that she had to suffer another loss. The girl had lost too much in her young life already. At first her own dad turned out to be a drunk and a bully and then Jack had left when she needed him so much. Mac had been like a brother to her, they had had a great relationship until he disappeared without a word. What had he been thinking? Joining the war again as if there was no responsibilty at home? Riley was his responsibility, damn it! What a selfish bastard he was, it served him right if he died here in that hell hole. Maybe he was lucky and she would be angry about his deah. Anger was better than grief and sorrow.

Jack would never forget her shocked expression, when he told her about his plan. He had never wanted to hurt her again when they had finally sorted out their problems. And then bang, he had hurt her more than ever before. Jack should have just taken a job as a guard dog and spent his free time with his girl. But the Delta knew deep down that it wouldn't have worked. As much as he loved his girl, the loss of Mac was lasting too hard on him, that he could have simply moved on with his life. His whole world had revolved around the blond genius. When Mac had left his world tilted like a top that touched an obstacle and lost its rhythm. Jack crashed. His purpose was gone and not only that. Mac was his best friend, he grounded him, gave Jack the opportunity to save more lifes than take. With Mac by his side Jack was a better man. Without him … Afghanistan didn't seem such a bad idea. Way better actually than working for the CIA and losing his soul on the dark side of the job again. Better to die in the sandbox for an important cause than losing his life while concealing some polticians bored sons errors. God what would he give to have one last talk with Mac. But that wasn't meant to be.

Every single breath became a struggle. With each inhale his chest seemed to tighten a bit more. When the pain became too much, he couldn't fight the urge to cough. It was a wet and gurgling sound and his mouth was wet with blood. Jack sputtered and coughed and felt the room spinning. This was it. Distantly he heard his friends call out to him. He needed to do one last thing. When the coughing finally eased and he gulped in a bit of air, Jack started to speak. „Need to do me a favour guys. Tell Ri, that I'm sorry … about leavin her and that I love her. Mac … love … him too … mustn't blame … himself … my fault … sorry …" The last words were slurred, when Jacks body decided he couldn't take any more.

Ferrari started yelling. „No Jack no. Don't you dare and give up. They're coming for us and you will tell Riley yourself that you love her. Jack! Come on cowboy. Jack answer, damn it." The soldiers words held no heat, only pleading.

Berks muttered. „Christ, I hope you only passed out again big guy."

By the time they had reached their destination Mac had his inner turmoil under control again. He was a man on a mission, he could fall apart later. They agreed that Riley would stay at the command center while Mac hopped on a chopper that took him to the site of the cave-in. Riley would be able to provide any intel neccessary for Mac to support the rescue mission as well as keeping Matty and Bozer in the loop.

The helicopter hadn't touched down completely when the blond was out and running in the direction of the temporay tent the rescue team had set up. He stormed in and was relieved to find a familiar face. Matty had done her best to even the path for Mac and the Army was informed that he was coming to help. The blond had been afraid that they would turn him down nevertheless as he was a civillian now. His face lit up when he recognized his former superior. „Colonel Stevens, good to see you." He reached out a hand that was shaken heartily by the older soldier.

„Specialist MacGyver, it's been a long time and I'd wish it would be under better circumstances to meet you again."

„What's the status?" Mac came right down to business.

The Colonels face was grim. „Not good Mac, not good at all. They've been in there for about 14 hours now and we don't have a proof that they're alive. We've been working on clearing the main tunnel, but the explosion obviously made the whole structure more unstable and there was another cave-in half an hour ago. Luckily all of my men got out in time, but now we have to find another way." The soldier pointed at the map on the table. „According to PFC Hanson our guys were still in the chamber, when the CIA agent threw the grenade."

Mac studied the image. „Where exactly where Jack and his men standing?"

A tall young soldier with a pale complexion and his arm in a sling stepped to the table. „Jack was to the right, I think he was closest to the detonation. Berks and Ferrari where farther back and slightly to the left." Hansons hand was shaking when he pointed at the map. He straightened back up and winced in pain.

Macs eyes widened. „Ferrari? You mean Rico Fusco?"

Colonel Stevens nodded. „He's still here. Sit down Private before you keel over. He refuses any pain medication, wants to be awake to help. Reminds me of a certain blond Specialist back in the days."

Mac nodded. „I appreciate your help Private." He bent over the table and studied the map for a while. „While on my last tour, we were in a similar situation. There had been kids trapped in a cave. It was the same kind of rocks. I set up a small explosion that created a new opening, where we got them out. I think we have the best chance, if we place the explosives here. We need to drill some holes here, here and here." Macs voice was calm and steady, belying the fact that he was terrified they would recover corpses. No, don't go there. Jack's not dead.

„Are you sure Mac? That sounds pretty dangerous." The Colonel objected.

„No, I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I think it's the best option we have. We don't know how badly they're hurt and they've been in there too long already. You said that the main tunnel has collapsed, digging a new one would take days. I admit it's a risk, but I know what I'm doing. So I'm asking you to trust me." Mac stated seriously.

Stevens observed him for a minute, then nodded. „Tell me what you need Mac."

It took them another three hours until they were ready. Getting the equipment to drill the holes was the most difficult part, once they were made it was only a matter of minutes until Mac gave the signal to take cover. The blond sent up a short prayer before he triggered the explosion.

Mac was the first one who started running. The ground was treacherous, covered with gravel and loose rocks, but they were small enough to move them aside. A small bulldozer started to clear the path until Mac deemed it too dangerous to continue. There must have been at least fifty soldiers digging through the rubble determinedly. Mac checked the GPS again, they must have reached the room where Jack and his men were buried. He motioned for everybody to stop and listened for a minute.

At first everything was silent apart from the heavy breathing of the soldiers. Macs heart sank, but then he heard a muffled Help!. That was all he needed. The blond shouted. „They're here! Careful now." Their renewed hope gave them a boost of energy and soon they uncovered a dusty, bleeding but grinning Rico Fusco. His eyes widened, when he recognized his former team mate. „Mac? You sonofabitch. I should have known, when I heard the detonation."

Two medics were already attending the injured man, when Mac finally found his voice. „Ferrari! Good to see you alive. What about Jack and Berkman?" He asked anxiously.

Ferraris face fell. „Berks is only a few feet to my right. He was talking a few minutes ago. Jack … Jack was bad off. He … stopped talking a few hours ago."

NO! Macs mind screamed not willing to accept the fact, that Jack was possibly dead. No, he wouldn't give up on his partner. When someone could survive this, it was Jack. „Where is he Ferrari?" Mac demanded to know.

„Right across the room, he must have been near the wall." Rico pointed in the direction he assumed Jack to be. The medics transferred Ferrari onto a stretcher, while the soldiers resumed their digging. A short time later Berkman was found. He was barely conscious, but alive. Mac was glad that the other guys were probably ok, but his focus was solely on Jack. The work gloves he wore were torn as well as his fingers, but the fact didn't even register on his mind. „Come on Jack, where are you?" He mumbled under his breath, just as his hands uncovered an Army boot. „Jack! I found him. Help me, hurry, but careful." Mac cried and worked his way to his partners upper body. He gasped when he took in the Deltas appearance. Jack was awfully pale, not even the dust that covered his face could hide the fact. Blood was covering his lips and chin. Mac ripped off his gloves and searched frantically for Jacks pulse. Nothing. „I can't find a pulse." Mac yelled and pressed his fingers in harder. Still nothing.

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