THEN

Mac groaned and leaned his head in his hand. He felt sweaty, dizzy and sick. His mouth was dry and his tongue felt two sizes too big. A plate of toast slid under his chin. Mac looked up ready to snipe at Jack. Bozer smiled. He wore a uniform similar to the one he wore at the burger joint, even to the tilted white side cap. Mac shoved the toast away.

"Not hungry." He grumbled. Bozer grinned and sat beside Mac.

"Look, I promised Jack-"
"Don't care."

"-he promised to rip my arms off, then did a Chewbacca yowl and-"

"Boze, stop."

"-then he grabbed the front of my shirt and lifted me-" Mac thumped his forehead against the table.

"Please stop."

"-at least ten feet off the ground, I'm not making that up! All the while Desi is sittin' there with her knife-"

"Ok! You win." Mac winced at his own loud voice. Boze slid a glass of OJ beside the toast. Mac yawned and took a sip. He raised his eyebrows. Bozer grinned.

"Yep, fresh squeezed just for you." Mac managed a wan smile. He rubbed his face and forced himself to look at least a little awake. He picked up the toast and nibbled the corner. He hadn't really paid attention to where he was when Jack parked his wheelchair against the table. He'd taken advantage of the dim, quiet room and laid with his head down. Jack teased him about "nappy time" then had to go help other patients arriving.

They were in the large dining room. About ten other patients were spread sporadically around the room. Xandar and another orderly Mac had never seen before moved from table to table taking vitals. Half of the patients looked as out of it as he felt; the other half were more interesting. They wore rubber soled boots, sat rigidly and their eyes roamed. Professionals. They didn't look American. Mac frowned and nibbled his toast. He turned to Boze.

"Where's Riley and Desi?"

"Riley's in the file room and Desi...who knows." Mac smiled. It was comforting knowing his partner, former partner? Did he have two partners now? Mac shook his head and winced as everything spun wildly around him a minute. Whatever she was, her silent presence reassured him. Her and Jack-Mac took a deep breath and sipped his OJ. He felt a little more human.

"Have her check out those guys." Mac pointed out each one of the suspected patients, "I think they might be buyers for the info."
"Why would they come here?" Mac frowned.

"I don't know, but it can't be good." Both men looked up as Marvilla approached the table. She stood looking down at them. Even through her eye patch, Mac could feel a double eyed glare. His imagination? He wasn't sure. There was something off about the pregnant woman. Something-

"I assume everything is done in the kitchen?" Bozer bounced to his feet and glanced at Mac alarmed. He was supposed to stay and keep an eye out for Mac. Mac nodded and offered a small smile. Bozer scowled and took Mac's empty glass. Ingra watched him go then turned to Mac.

"You know him?"

"He reminded me of an old roommate I had in college." Mac answered smoothly. He put down the toast. The woman eyed him a long minute then slid into the chair Bozer had vacated. Mac frowned. He didn't know much about pregnancy, but he did know women as far along as the woman appeared did not move that easily or smoothly. Mac chewed another bite of toast as he pondered the possibilities.

"Mr. MacGyver," the woman said easing forward. Mac raised an eyebrow. Marvilla smiled. It was not a comforting smile. She leaned forward. Mac noticed her lipstick seemed to change shades as she moved. It was distracting.

"I know Mack Born is a cover name. Don't be alarmed, we are accustomed to the...confidentiality issues that comes with our population." Mac's other eyebrow rose. Population? Marvilla sat back and crossed her legs. The movement was all wrong. Her belly was too light. Fake? Mac jumped when the woman slapped a thick file folder on the paper. Mac closed his eyes and turned away. Paperclipped to the cover was a picture of him from his last visit to a Red House. He swallowed a lump.

Ingra smiled and folded her hands on her raised knee.

"The details are sparse, but I see you participated in the experimental full immersion desentization therapy." Mac turned away as if he'd been slapped. Heat blows over him from the explosion. If he hurries he could reach the last hut...one. He had to save just one...Jack, dammit, LET GO! I have to save one...please, just one- Mac took in a deep breath and let it out. He became aware that the woman was staring at him. He squirmed feeling her gaze pass through him like he was glass. She tapped one perfectly manicured hand against the cover of his file. He felt a shiver ran through him as sweat slicked his skin. He picked up the toast and started to rip it into pieces absently.

"I see. The technology has been significantly improved. I think you will find the new therapy intense, but very enlightening." Mac gulped and looked at the woman. He narrowed his eyes.

"What makes you think I'm going to go through that again?" Marvilla fingered her hoop earrings thoughtfully.

"According to your records, it was a very effective last time." Mac flinched. Distant...feel nothing...dead...you are one of the dead...Mac licked his lips. Ingra slithered forward faster than he expected and caught his hand in both of hers. Her hands were cold, dry and soft. She dug her nails into his flesh. He grimaced but managed to keep it from his face.

"I understand. It is a difficult therapy, but the effects last a lifetime." Mac had to agree with that. Marvilla offered a smile that would have been reassuring on Mount Rushmore. Her nails dug in deeper.

"Don't worry, Mr. MacGyver. We will take care of you just as you deserve. Your country owes you a debt." Mac was not comforted. He tried to pull his hand away. He felt his skin tear before she finally let go. He fought the urge to pick his hand up and shake it. He didn't take his eyes away from hers. She smiled a genuine smile.

"It's up to you, Mr. MacGyver. You don't have to utilize this therapy we have others." Her voice had the sharp threat of a razor blade. Mac cleared his throat. She let out a breath and smoothly stood. She turned and snapped her fingers. Mac looked up alarmed. He relaxed when Jack jogged forward. The dark look on his face told Mac he'd heard the entire conversation. She glanced at Jack.

"Take this patient to his bed. He looks pale." Marvilla squeezed Mac's shoulder digging her nails in, "We'll talk later, Mr. MacGyver." Mac shuddered as she pivoted and left the cafeteria. After she'd gone Mac and Jack shared a look of exasperation.

"Are you ok? Did Maleficent there hurt you?" Mac blinked, his eyes were full and stung. He held up his hand. Jack grabbed it and swore. The deep half moons were easy to see. Two had blood dripping from them, these looked red and swollen.

"Hold on, I'll be right back. I have to get something to clean this up, ok?" Mac nodded. He rubbed his eyes. Everything was blurry and his head pounded. He rubbed his forehead. Sweat beaded and rolled into his eyes. He shook his head. His hand trembled. What was going-drugged. The woman drugged him. Her nail polish? Mac pushed back the wheelchair and stood. He staggered and fell to one knee. Holding onto the table he pushed to his feet. He wobbled to the next table. He grabbed the man's orange juice and poured it over his hand. Mac cried out at the sting. The orange juice foamed and burned. Mac hoped it was enough to counteract...Mac groaned and fell against the table. Everything spun. Mac managed to turn. He was surrounded by patients in the light brown scrubs. They multiplied to hundreds doing a wild dance around him.

"Jack…"Mac tried to yell, but his voice squeaked into nothing. Mac fell to his knees. JACK! He yelled, but no sound came out. JA- Mac slammed face first into the tile. He put his hands on the ground and pushed up, but didn't move. Hands took him by the arms and dragged him to the wheelchair.

"Take him to the dome." The voice echoed too much for him to recognize it. His head lulled forward.

JACK! PLEASE-Mac tried to stand, but his body was as useful as jello. The echoing voices thundered through his head. Sparklers burned his eyes, then slowly went out.

Riley half listened to Xander talking over the stereo earbud she had stuffed in her ear. So far nothing but report on various patients and schedules for the new staff. Riley glanced up as a nurse passed her, flipped through a series of folders on the shelf beside her, then left with one in her hand. Riley offered her a polite smile but bent over a stack of folders on her rolling cart pretending she was busy filing them. She glanced at her laptop open on the cart. Mac's outline had a lot of info scrolling down it, but nothing alarming. Riley smiled. He was probably feeling the hangover of hangovers. The smile turned cold. If she had anything to say about it, she'd be able to give these people permanent hangovers. She glanced around her. No one.

Riley began to tap into her rig. She smiled as figures and screens scrolled past fast. She was going to shut this place down one way or another. Riley jumped when a loud alarm sounded. She glanced over. Mac's readings had changed, and not for the better. Shit. She tapped a button to narrow down what was going on and froze listening to Xander over Mac's earbud.

"...yes, we're taking him to the dome. We have to go full court press on him. The boss says we're leaving in 24hours and have to liquidate." Riley heard a number of voices with thick slavic accents. She tugged out the ear bud.

"Guys, we're blown. We have to get to Mac." Riley snapped her laptop shut and shoved past the cart heading to the stairs.

"Ri?"

"I'm here-God dammit! Mac is gone." Jack raged. Riley gritted her teeth and sped up. When things go to hell, they go fast.

"Shit." She grumbled as she pushed through the door and ran down the stairs. She pulled Jack's spare gun out of her jacket pocket. Shit, shit, shit. Hang in there, brother, we're coming. Hang on, Mac…

NOW

Jack frowned at the river in front of him. He laid down the belt circling his chest and wiped his forehead. It was hot and humid. He estimated he only had a mile more to go before he found the mystery "vehicles," but no one had mentioned a river.

Rapid frothy tides upstream formed a stair-step waterfall over stones the same bright red as the dirt around them. Jack suspected that this river was probably swollen by meltwater farther north. He glanced down. Mac hadn't moved. Jack frowned. The question was how to get across in one piece? The current was too fast to walk across and Mac's sled probably wouldn't float without more work.

Jack shrugged his shoulders trying to ease the aching from his muscles. He slid out of his clothes until he wore only his T-shirt. The temp had risen dramatically over the three hours he'd been hauling Mac through the woods. Sweat ran down his body. His head snapped up when he heard a distant crackle of gunfire.

"Dammit." He growled. He thought he could hear a soft buzzing-dirt bikes? Shit. Jack turned and bit his lip.

"Jack?" Jack whirled at Mac's soft gasp. He crouched beside his friend. Mac's eyes were heavy and sunken. His pallor had gone past white to almost see-through. He licked his dry lips and slowly took in their surroundings.

"Hey, brother." Jack brushed Mac's wild hair back, using the move to brush his forehead. Mac was cold but not clammy.

"What's wrong?" Mac asked. He shivered as he tried to roll to his good side so he could sit up. The world seemed to grey out. His head dipped. Mac eventually blinked everything back. Jack held him up and crouched beside him talking. It took a long minute before the older man's voice overcame the loud banging of Mac's heart.

"...stupid river!" Mac turned to Jack.

"What?" Jack rolled his eyes and let out a long sigh. He waved at the river. Mac took it in.

"We need to cross that, any ideas?" Mac's forehead wrinkled as he tried to get his sluggish brain to work. He leaned forward moaning as Jack checked his dressing. Mac puffed and closed his eyes reminding his gut he really didn't have enough to bother puking up. He cried out and pushed Jack's arm away when he put pressure on Mac's bullet wound.

"Sorry, sorry. I had to put more padding on that. It's still bleeding." Mac's Adam's apple bobbed. He nodded, but had to wait a long minute before the nausea passed, "You ok?"

"J-just fine." Mac managed a jaunty tone he didn't feel. Jack's soft brown eyes lost a little of their worry. Mac narrowed his eyes and half turned, "ATVs."

"Yeah. Somehow I'm not thinking they're on our side."

"Where are the others?" Jack scowled and turned away. Mac sat up, "Jack?"

"Bozer and Riley were taken, Desi is going after them." Mac rubbed his forehead with a shaky hand. He took a deep breath and grimaced as he leaned forward eyeing the river.

"We have to go back."

"No, no, no. Mac, I know you want to help, but Desi-"

"Will need help." Jack growled and stood. He turned in a circle rubbing his head.

"We can't Mac, I'm sorry." Mac glared at his friend. The effect was ruined by his pale waxy skin.

"Jack, we-"

"Mac, no. We have to get out of here. Once we get out from that damned suppressor field we can call Matty and reinforcements in and take that whole place down." Mac sighed and leaned back. He arched his back in pain as he flopped back on the pine boughs. Mac closed his eyes and took long breaths until he got on top of his pain. He trembled.

"We have to cross this river." Jack mused.

"Well that'll be fun." Mac grumbled leaning forward his hand rubbing his bad arm. Jack frowned.

"No kidding." They heard a roar and the sound of ATV's cut off. Mac staggered to his feet and stood beside Jack. Jack absently put a hand on his back to steady him.

"We have to move." Mac growled.

"Yeah...any ideas?" Mac turned and smiled at Jack. Jack rolled his eyes.

"Of course you do, and I'm not gonna like it am I?"

Five minutes later, both men were in their skivvies holding their clothing and belongings wrapped inside their coats balancing on their heads. Jack walked behind Mac and kept one hand on Mac's back a hand hooked into the wrapping around his shoulder and waist. Jack didn't like how much Mac was shaking. Jack shivered himself. The water was perfectly clear but pressed against them like frozen teeth. Their bare feet clung to stones on the bottom of the water. Jack stepped on the same rocks as Mac did. He scanned the bank behind them. It was taking longer than he'd hoped. He could hear the baying of hounds over the roar of the river. At least the water was running fast enough to scatter their scent. They'd be fine if they could reach the other side and hide in time.

Jack turned to encourage Mac when the man yelped and vanished. His bundle hit the water and floated down stream.

"Mac!" Jack dropped his bundle and reached out to pull Mac back up. He tightened his fingers around the cloth that had braced Mac's shoulder. Jack's eyes widened and he almost screamed when the cloth came up by itself. It had unravelled.

"Shit!" Jack yelled diving under the chilled water.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Matty Candido- ¡Aquí está, para ti!