At a rustle beside him, Jack's finger tightened on the trigger to the Beretta.
"I know you aren't asleep, Jack." Jack raised his head and smiled at the small woman. She eyed him a long minute then turned forward.
"They're like children." She said. Jack shot her a glance. Her voice had thawed. Jack turned forward and watched the three nerds get their geek on. Leonard, Mac and Cody crouched over the plans to the boat that skittered across the waves. For the first time in forever, Mac looked happy. Jack sighed and turned his chair toward Hiro.
"I get who he is, who are you?" Hiro asked. She leaned back and crossed her legs. She had very long glittery nails that clicked as she tapped them against the arm of the chair. Jack smiled.
"You first." Hiro nodded and removed her glasses. Her sparkly lashes glittered under the late afternoon sun.
"You're a Delta. Why are you with a boy who never held a gun in his life? His protection? Then why has he been beaten?" Jack felt a red flash of anger pinken his face. She'd hit a nerve. She smiled. She knew it too. Jack rubbed his finger along the trigger. He glanced at Mac. Mac frowned at him, picking up Jack's unease. Jack waved at him. Mac leaned back and eyed the two guys beside him, thoughtful. Jack turned to Hiro.
"Are you really married to Leonard? He hasn't been in the military for a long time and is exactly what he says. You, however, are very active and very trained. People's Liberation Army Special Operation Services?" Hiro smiled and crossed her legs.
"Leonard is the love of my life. I would die a hundred times over to protect him." Jack nodded.
"Then you know who I am." Hiro nodded and glanced over at the trio.
"They are like boys." She said. Jack nodded.
"Yep, definitely getting their nerd on."
"Getting they're...what?" Jack turned away hiding his smirk. He knew the woman behind him was incredibly dangerous, one of the best trained spies in the world, but the look of confusion on her face made her look like a pouting Anime school girl.
The boat began to slow down. Cody said something to the other two guys and turned his focus back to steering the boat. Mac plopped into the seat beside Jack. He stiffened and pulled at the brace he wore. He turned to Jack. Before he opened his mouth, Jack cut him off.
"No." Mac raised an eyebrow his mouth still open. He leaned back and rubbed his forehead. His shoulders slumped. Jack leaned forward and fought the urge to check him over again. Not only would it piss the kid off, but Jack didn't want to advertise how crappy his partner truly felt. Jack was worried when Mac didn't argue.
"You ok, brother?" Jack lowered his voice. Hiro and Leonard were busily talking in fast Mandarin. Mac nodded then winced. Jack scowled. The pain medicine would be completely out of his system by now. Jack thought about getting Mac a pill. He moved to stand up. Mac grabbed his arm and pulled. Jack looked at him. Mac's tired eyes met his.
"I'm fine." Jack would have been much more reassured if Mac didn't look like he was about to fall over dead. Jack relaxed down and nodded.
"Ok, but we have a lot to discuss later." Mac sighed and nodded.
"Later." Jack leaned back and smiled.
"Looks like you got your nerd on." Mac smiled.
"It's nice to have someone to talk to."
"Ok, I'll choose to not be insulted by that." Mac rolled his eyes causing a wince.
"You know what I mean." Jack grinned.
"I know, kiddo, wait till you see the rest." Mac's back straightened and he looked like a kid waiting for Christmas.
"What are you talking about?" Jack leaned closer.
"Dude, this is the Disneyworld for nerds. You're gonna love it." Mac narrowed his eyes.
"What's the catch?" Jack leaned back genuinely hurt.
"There's no catch! I want you to relax and decompress from...last month." Mac looked out at the bouncing surf and nodded. He knew that was the ulterior motive. Mac curled forward with his arms crossing his chest. A shiver ran through him. He felt exhausted. He wished he was home. A hand on his shoulder startled him. He looked at Jack.
"Relax, kiddo. It's gonna be alright." Mac stared down at his feet as he splashed the toe of his boot in a shallow water puddle, "Mac?" Before Mac could answer the boat started slowing.
They were approaching a circle of boats. The top of the water was covered with bobbing balloons. Divers.
"A hundred feet under the water is the remains of a city created more than 1300 years ago." Leonard said awe in his voice, "When we get down to the pod I'll have to show you the satellite mapping I've done. It's like an x-ray of the entire island."
"Island?" Jack asked.
"There is an underground volcanic fount deeper down. We think that it was once active and created an archipelago of small volcanic islands."
"Like the Hawaiian islands." Mac mused. Leonard smiled. He squirmed with excitement.
"Exactly! With the heavy currents and rising tides, the islands have all but disappeared. That's why we're hurrying to get all the data we can now." Jack straightened.
"It's gonna get sucked under the sea?"
"Yes. Very soon." Jack leaned forward.
"Soon, like how soon?" Leonard laughed.
"I'm sorry, Jack. I forgot you are not a scientist. To archeologists, soon is measured in hundreds of years." Jack leaned back.
"That's good, I'm really not in the mood to deal with a collapsing island." Leonard laughed a little too enthusiastically. He leaned forward.
"You are right, Mac, you're friend is very funny." Jack shot Mac a glare. Mac smirked.
The boat pivoted almost directly into a right corner. Jack grabbed the arms of his chair, but marvelled that the seats swivelled with the boat. It felt like they'd never shifted directions-like someone had lifted them then turned the boat under them. Cody glanced at his watch and turned to the others.
"Another forty minutes and we'll be at the docks." Jack nodded and shared a smile with Mac. He was no scientist, but he was feeling as excited as Mac. Well, maybe a little less. He knew he wouldn't appreciate the nerd stuff, but the rest? It was going to be the experience of a lifetime.
The docks were exactly what they sounded like. A floating dock with boats tied along the bobbing pier surrounding it. In the center was a shiny silver Quonset hut. Cody swerved and cut the engine. It fell down to a purr then a soft whine with occasional soft popping noises. Cody nimbly jumped to the dock and tied the boat off. He held out a hand and helped Hiro make the jump across to the dock. Mac bent and handed Jack his bag. Mac managed to hide most of his flinch of pain. Jack took the bag. He turned back to talk to Mac when the cooling engine let off a loud bang.
Jack jumped and had his Beretta out. He chuckled and repouched it.
"Damn, dude."
"Sorry, man, the motor builds up gas after it releases-" Jack held up his hand cutting the ship captain off.
"That's ok, Cody. Don' need to know." Cody grinned and hopped to the dock holding out a hand to help Hiro and Leonard off. Jack turned to Mac surprised to see the kid ash white, eyes wide and scouring the docks and ocean around them, "Mac?" Mac gasped and jumped when Jack put a hand on his shoulder. Mac's blue eyes shone with fear.
"Hey, Mac, you ok?" Mac turned away and nodded. He took a long breath and grabbed his bag. He pulled away from Jack's touch and hopped off the boat. Jack followed suit a worried frown creasing his face.
Inside the Quonset hut was an inner dock and bobbing in the dock a small submarine attached to two steel tracks. Jack stared at it a minute. Mac didn't stop to say anything only followed the Makuris and Cody into the bullet shaped capsule. Jack sighed and climbed in beside his partner. The top slid back and a metal sleeve with a large over head window slid over it.
"That helps keep the pressure from breaking the dome." Cody said virtually vibrating with excitement. Jack leaned over to look out. The rails seemed to vanish into black water.
"Is this like a roller coaster thing?" Jack asked nervously. Cody chuckled.
"Not exactly."
"Not-?" Jack's voice was stolen as the submarine jerked to the side and dropped into the water. Jack held on to the back of Cody's seat and looked over at Mac. Mac stared out the large window. His shoulders slumped forward. He had a far away look in his eyes. Jack scowled.
Both men started when lights clicked in along the rails and they began to sink. Mac turned to Jack a grin blooming on his face. Jack nodded. Yep, exactly what his partner needed.
The ride down took about 20 minutes. Jack marvelled at the fish they saw brush by them on the way.
"Man this is like an all you can eat fishing buffet! Look at the size of that tuna!" Mac rolled his eyes. He glanced back at the couple. They leaned with their heads together talking softly. Mac couldn't see their eyes, but he had the sense they were talking about him and Jack. Mac frowned. Jack tilted his head puzzled. Mac nodded over at the couple. Jack glanced over his shoulder and scowled.
"Didn't know we were that interesting." Jack muttered softly to Mac.
"Yeah, exactly what kind of place are you taking me?"
"Well-" Jack trailed off as they arrived.
Sprawled half into the stone of the sunken island and along a long shelf was a compound made of domes. Some looked like they were glass. Through the glass they could see a steady bustle of white coats moving along equipment and labs. As they got closer to the land, there were less windows and the glimpses they got of people were more relaxed. Obviously the habitant section of the compound.
"Looks like something you'd see in space." Mac said more than a little awe in his voice. How had he not known this existed?
"That's actually the original purpose of the Pod." Leonard said pushing his bushy blond tipped bangs out of his face, "It is actually a prototype of a complex they want to build on the moon, and later on Mars. When it was built, scientists petitioned for time on the Pod. We got all kinds of research going on, most of it involving the sunken city."
"There are oceanographers, chemists looking at the mercury poisoning of the fish in the area, the effects of pollution, climatologists, all sorts of geologist studying not only the volcano, but also the effects on the current and magnetic fields of the earth after a massive earthquake and tsunami." Cody continued. Mac grinned and leaned forward studying the Pod.
"What do you do for oxygen?"
"Right now hydraulic ventilation and hydroponics, but we are working on water fission-"
"Fission, like bomb fission?" Jack asked alarmed. His alarm didn't diminish when Mac looked as worried as he did. Leonard waved a hand.
"All experiments are tightly controlled and have to go through a rigorous selection process. Anything potentially dangerous is done off site."
"Right. What can go wrong with that?" Jack mumbled under his breath. There was a loud clang they the submarine shifted direction. They slid forward then slowly cranked upward into the bottom of the Pod.
Mac stood and peered up as they rose into a doc that slowly drained of water. The floor sealed below them and the two sleeves over their head slid back. The passengers disembarked. Mac sniffed. The smell of salty water and fish seemed to hang in the dripping empty cement room that held two docks for the submarines. His boots splashed through water puddling on the floor. An elevator slid open on the far wall. As far as Mac could tell, it was the only entrance to the room.
A tall slim woman with a full Afro stepped toward them. She was taller than Mac, but equal in build. She wore high tops and relaxed Jeans. Under her white lab coat, she wore a hot pink shirt with "Science Works!" printed across the front. She walked fast and strong, like Mac's first drill sergeant in the Army. He had to fight to not snap to attention as she approached them. Mac smirked at Jack fidgeting. Probably suffering the same impulse.
The woman broke out into a grin. Mac realized the woman was his age, maybe a little younger. She held out a hand.
"Codyyyy!" Cody slapped her hand and bent to kiss her on the cheek. Hiro and Leonard gave the woman hugs, waved at Mac then disappeared up the elevator with Cody.
"Well then, what have we here." The woman ran her eyes up and down both men. She nodded, "Ok, you-military, definitely military." She pointed at Jack. She narrowed her eyes and walked around Mac studying him.
"But you, you are something completely different."
"Girl, you don't know the half of it." Jack said laughing. Mac shot him a droll look. The girl stopped and studied Mac with a steady gaze. Mac turned away. She nodded.
"You are interesting. You are definitely a sciency guy, and yet have the build of someone who is in fights or works out a lot. You got the crap beaten out of you. Most people would be in the hospital with what you've been through, but you're here acting like you really aren't hurting. I'm guessing you were in a bar brawl of some sort, you still have glass in your hair…" She reached up and pulled a tiny piece out of Mac's hair. Mac ducked back from her touch and Jack took a reflexive step forward. She held up a tiny glittering sliver of green glass, "So this didn't happen too long ago, not even long enough ago to have a shower. You were late additions. Without applying for any project, someone pulled strings to get you in here. Government. But you really don't look like a spy." She rubbed her chin. Jack and Mac shared a nervous glance. She pointed at Jack, "He is obviously your bodyguard. Now who are you to need a bodyguard?" The woman stepped back and linked her hands behind her back. She grinned.
"I love a mystery, oh I'm Jem-Short for Jemima Lareau. I'm the director of the Pod facilities." She jutted out a hand. Mac smiled and shook it. She had a strong dry grip. He had no doubt she could mess up his hand if she squeezed as hard as she was able.
"I'm Mac...uh, Angus MacGyver." Jem raised an eyebrow.
"And I thought I drew the short straw in names. Angus, really?" Mac shrugged. Jack leaned forward.
"I'm Jack Dalton." Jem nodded at him.
"That is very Texan." Jack grinned.
"Damn right." Jem laughed.
"Alright, mystery boys, let me give you the five cent tour."
The two men were exhausted when they were shown to their quarters two hours later. The Pod had labs of all kinds, a mile long track and full exercise gym, pool, and spa. What felt like miles of stone caverns with rooms lining them in daisy patterns. A cafeteria. Mac and Jack grabbed a quick sandwich, too tired to wait for a real meal.
"You've only seen about a third of the Pod, but you're about to drop. So here's you." Jem gave them a key card and bade them good night.
The room, like most of the buildings, was a dome. The circular wall opened into a full window looking out into the dark water. They found a control panel that allowed them to turn on different lights outside the dome so they could see the fish swim by. Jack pulled the heavy curtain closed covering the whole wall.
"I don't know man, having fish stare at me all night kinda freaks me
Out." Mac plopped on the bed. The rest of the room looked like any hotel room. A small hall led off to a standard bedroom. Functional, no frills. Mac leaned forward grunting as he squirmed. He reached back and hissed in pain as he tried to take off the truss Doc Carl insisted he wear. Jack came over and lifted his shirt, helping unsnap the brace. Mac let out a deep breath of relief as he pulled it away.
"Thanks," Mac said sincerely. Jack patted him on the shoulder and moved over to his own bed, "I guess we know how fish feel in an aquarium now." Mac said around a yawn. Jack sprawled on his bed and crossed his legs.
"I'll let you shower first." Jack said. Mac looked over at Jack. He blinked at him slowly. Mac nodded.
"Thanks." Mac grabbed clothes and headed for the bathroom. The
Water was cool, but felt fantastic on his sore and aching body. Mac shampooed, gritting his teeth as he pulled glass out of his hair. He stared at one brown piece as big as his fingernail. He vaguely remembered a bald guy with more tattoos than hair. Mac moaned and leaned over feeling as if he'd been punched in the chest. He slumped to his knees and curled into a ball under the water.
He gritted his teeth as the memory played. Bozer's eyes...fear, panic...BANG...Mac jerked upright when the silent gunfire echoed in the bathroom. It took him a long minute to realize Jack was pounding on the door.
"...gonna come in there!" Mac frowned. How long had Jack been calling him. He realized the water was freezing. He shivered, but was too tired to move. He closed his eyes and leaned his head into his arms crossed on his knees.
"I'm fine." He yelled. Mac winced. His voice sounded anything but.
He shook his head. The bathroom door opened and Jack peered around. He frowned taking in Mac curled up shivering in the bottom of the shower.
"Yeah, sure you are." The older man grunted. Mac shook his head and yawned.
"Jus' tired." Mac murmured. Jack sighed. He reached into the shower and pulled his hand out.
"Damn, son, that is frickin' cold!" Mac shrugged.
"Feels good." Mac was too tired to figure out if he meant it or not. Jack turned off the water and sat on the toilet.
"I bet it does. Like an ice pack all around ya, huh?"
"Hmm." Jack shook his head. He reached over and tugged a thick towel from the rack above the toilet. He leaned over Mac and dried him off as much as he could then wrapping the towel over his shoulders. Jack silently inventoried the collection of bruises and wounds spread around Mac's body. He winced at the worst one over the kid's right side. His bruised liver. Jack got another shower and rubbed Mac's hair dry. He took the opportunity to feel the kid's scalp. Most of the grit was gone. Mac seemed to melt into a puddle.
"C'mon, kiddo." Jack said. Mac nodded but didn't move. Jack got behind Mac and lifted him, ducking under his partner's shoulder to hold him up, "This is getting too familiar, bud." Mac's head ducked forward his wet bangs dangling in front of his face. His eyes were already closed.
Jack pulled back the blankets and sat Mac on the bed. He got Mac's sweats and undershirt from the bathroom. He returned to the bedroom only to find Mac buried under the mound of blankets, hair puffing out in all direftions as he snored. Jack chuckled and set the clothes on the table beside Mac's bed.
Jack took his shower and climbed into bed. He relaxed down. He glanced over at his friend and got back up to turn on the bathroom light and left the door ajar. If he knew his boy, all the shit he kept pushing down would bob back to the surface. Jack yawned and clicked off the lamp beside the bed. He just hoped they both got a few good hours before that happened.