Chapter Nine: Recruiting the CIA

Matty's Office...

The best view in the house...

Jack did not wait long before pouncing on Matty. The director had been expecting it so directed Jack to her office where they could 'have it out' in private. It really wouldn't do to have an argument in the middle of the hallway, it would send out completely the wrong message. It a rumour started forming that the director and the agent of her best team were at each other's throats there would be no shortage of people that would try and take advantage of that.

"You want to tell me why you kept this from me?" Jack bellowed as soon as the door had been closed. He had been prepared to wait until they were somewhere more private – if for Mac's benefit and nothing else.

"I just wanted to make sure that we had all the facts before formulating a strategic plan," Matty tried to explain "I knew that if you found out before we had one then you might kill Oversight."

"I'm failing to see how that would be a bad thing." Jack snapped. If had his way, James would have a bullet somewhere in his body right about now.

"If that was all there was too in that I would agree with you!" Matty shot back.

That statement stopped Jack coldly. He morphed his glare into a more natural expression before he continued.

"What?"

"Don't you think that I want to see Oversight dead too? Hell, I'd like to put my bullet in his brain for hurting Mac! But I fear that if we act on that there will be unforeseen consequences that might end up hurting the one person we are trying to protect!"

Jack considered Matty's explanation. It was true that Oversight had a lot of influence throughout the 'spy world' (Bozer had dubbed the collective organisations as this and Jack secretly thought that it was cool though he would never actually admit that) and many organisations respected him. There was something more it too. Jack knew that there were many agents high up on the ladder that feared Oversight. He knew from experience that fear was a greater motive than respect.

"I can understand your reasoning but that doesn't mean I agree with it." Jack responded finally."

"That's good enough for me. Listen, Jack, we need to think about how we go about this. I don't need to tell you how divided loyalties could tear this place apart."

Matty was right. Oversight had his allies and they had theirs. If their allies were made to pick then it could cause an internal war. It would likely tear the Phoenix down and if other agencies got involved then that could reach a new level of disruption. A lot of innocent people could get caught in the crossfire. That though was the worst scenario.

"You said you could make this work," Jack remembered.

Matty nodded. "Remember that case in Colombian Rainforest? Well, that earned us a pretty big favour with the head of the CIA. That agent was his nephew. He practically raised that kid. Anyway, if I call him he'll take James into custody for treason."

"Treason?" Jack questioned.

"I can't go into the details about it but yes, treason. It's an occupational hazard when working with the CIA."

"I'm sensing a 'but' coming"

"But doing that is by no means risk-free. As I said, treason is an occupational hazard. James could quite easily turn the tables on me."

At the sound of Oversight's name, the first reference to the fact that he was human, Jack took a breath. He wasn't going to let Matty be charged with treason because of that bastard. He wasn't going to let his friend be taken off to a black site. Even if he didn't care about Matty (which he did – deeply) Mac would never forgive himself if it had happened. The kid would try and take all the blame even if Matty had freely made that.

"I am not going to let that happen. I want to protect Mac from this son of a bitch but I'm not going to let anything happen to you or anyone else I care about." Jack promised.

Matty sighed. Trust Jack to appoint himself as the protector of the team. He took his duty as Overwatch very seriously. His need to protect Mac was not something that would just be limited to his job. If he got fired tomorrow, he'd still protect Mac until his last breath. He extended that protection to the rest of his team too because they weren't just his team- they were his family.

"I was just about to phone Director Caldwell," Matty informed him. "I suppose you want to sit in on that."

Jack collapsed into a nearby chair with a big smile etched on his face. He brought his hands together with a clap. Matty tried hard not to roll her eyes at his antics.

"You know me so well."

Matty turned around and dialled a number. While she waited for an answer she shot Jack a warning look.

"Jack this is an important phone call."

"I know."

"Don't do anything that might endanger this. Just don't be you."

Jack opened his mouth indignantly, a retort already formed in his mouth. However, he never got to use it because a familiar voice sounded from the phone. He quickly shut his mouth, all thought of a snappy retort went out of his head and he changed onto the task in hand.

"Director Webber," The voice of CIA Director Mathew Caldwell filled the room. "I didn't expect you to cash in your favour quite so quickly. Or is there some other reason for this call?"

Jack did not like Mathew Caldwell. In his mind, he was a pompous Jackass whose ulterior motives caused nothing but trouble. When he worked with the CIA the two were constantly butting heads. Caldwell wasn't the director back then but still held his small seniority over Jack's head as though he were. Their history didn't matter at the moment though. If working with Caldwell meant Mac was safe, then Jack would just have to swallow his damn pride and allow him to help. Though if he were being honest, that was easier said than done.

"I have Dolton with me," Matty stated casting another warning glance at Jack.

"I see. I take it that Agent Dolton's presence is required for this conversation." Caldwell remarked annoyance seeping through his tone. It strongly implied that he was making a face while hidden safely in his office.

"You better believe it, Caldwell," Jack confirmed. There was a silent challenge behind those words, daring Caldwell to even try to challenge that.

"I'm going to save us all a lot of time and energy and come straight to the point." Matty interrupted.

She could tell that if she didn't take control of the conversation, Jack and Caldwell would end up arguing and pissing each other off. That would prevent any hope of getting the director to help – favours aside. The two men never saw eye to eye though she hoped for Mac's case Jack would be able to at least be civil.

"I would prefer it." Caldwell agreed superiorly.

"We need you to arrest Oversight, alias James MacGyver. Treason would be the best charge." Matty told him before Jack could comment on Caldwell's attitude.

Matty had expected a few different reactions. Caldwell's outright refusal was one of those, begrudging agreement was another. The other reactions she expected were somewhere on the spectrum between those two options. There was one reaction that she hadn't even counted upon: Caldwell bursting into dry laughter.

"Is there something funny?" Matty challenged sarcastically.

To say Caldwell's reaction annoyed Jack would be an understatement. This was not the time to joke around. He wanted to tip the man to shreds for daring to laugh at this. Who did he think he was? Matty silenced him with a warning look for the third time since they started this conversation. This is for Mac Jack reminded himself.

"Do you expect me to believe that you want us to arrest your boss? Do you think that this is going to stop us?" Caldwell probed incredulously.

Matty and Jack shared a look of intrigue and confusion. What was Caldwell going on about? Stop the CIA (assuming 'they' was the CIA) doing what?

"Stop you what?" Jack snapped fed up with half-statements people had been saying to him lately.

"Don't act like you don't know."

Caldwell was obviously under a misapprehension about something. That something involved information they were not already privy to. Whatever it was, it was important if affected the director's decision to help people.

"Ok let's stop playing 'beat about the bush' and actually address the issue directly," Matty suggested, rapidly losing patience. "We'll go first. We have recently been made aware that Oversight has been abusing one of my agents."

"What kind of abuse?"

"Physical," Jack replied eagerly that Caldwell did not forget that he was present.

"The agent's identity?"

Matty wasn't worried about the scandal. OK so maybe he was a little bit but her foremost concern was Mac. He was a very private person. He'd be angry when he inevitably discovered that she'd gone to the head of the CIA with this. If Matty told Caldwell about Mac's identity he'd never forgive her. She didn't want that.

"Is of little consequence- to you at any rate. The agent in question is dear to me. I know you understand that. I'm already taking a risk with his trust by contacting you with his permission, I will not betray him further by divulging his identity. I want Oversight away from my foundation. This is my favour."

They were met with stony silence. The light on the phone told them that they were at least still on the line with the director, but the lack of noise made them a little nervous.

"Caldwell?" Matty prompted.

Their patience paid off. A few seconds later Caldwell's voice sounded.

"If you are lying to me…" He warned evenly.

"We're not. Now can you please explain what we are supposed to be 'trying to stop' or do we have to guess? " Matty promised, resisting the urge to punctuate her speech with air quotes.

"We are already investigating Oversight MacGyver for treason." Caldwell enlightened them.

Well, they hadn't been expecting that. What was it that Caldwell had on Oversight? Her instincts told Matty that it wasn't linked to that treason that she knew of. Caldwell knew something about James – or at least suspected something about him- that she didn't. If Caldwell was right, it could change everything, and either be the saviour or thing that condemned them all.

"What?" Jack demanded voicing the confusion they both held.

"We have intel- strong intel- that he stole classified files when he consulted for us a few months ago. We also have reason to believe that he intends to use that information for his own agenda."

"How much evidence do you have?" Jack questioned.

"With what I believe you can tell us? Enough to send him to a black hole for the rest of his pitiful life." Caldwell advised, "Can I count on your co-operation?"

"We're in." Matty agreed without looking a Jack. She didn't need to look at him to know he'd only be too happy to help.

Jack considered what he'd just found out. If Caldwell was right, and he was prepared to believe that he was, then Oversight had been up to something. The bastard was many things, but an idiot was not one of them. If he had been willing to do something as risky as stealing CIA files, there had to be a reason. Oversight wouldn't just steal files because he could. He was logical to a fault – to a point where it could be dangerous. No. Jack was certain that he had his reasons for doing what he did and whatever that reason was it wasn't good.

The discussion left a bad taste in Jack's mouth. Something wasn't right. As several agents will tell you, your instincts were your friend. More often than not, they were right. That wasn't good. If the rule followed here then there could be a great threat headed for the Phoenix Foundation.