CH 83

The crew started to cry. Swain pulled Kate into his arms. Others that were close by saw them crying and walked over to them.

"You knew the woman?" one man asked.

"She's a crew member. She risked her life to save everyone else," Two Dads said sadly.

"I'm sorry for your loss. She's a hero, a true hero," the man replied.

"That she is," Charge said.

The police arrived along with the ambulance and the fire brigade. They were putting out the fire from the explosion when Mike and most of the remaining crew showed up.

"Kate!" Mike called to her. She turned into his embrace.

"Sir, it's MacGyver," Charge said.

"She risked her life tonight, Sir," Dutchy said.

"What happened?" Mike asked in shock.

"Suicide bomber. She took photos when she noticed something wasn't right," Swain showed him the photos that were on her phone. "There's two more," Swain said, showing Mike the two pictures.

"This guy on the right… he was the one that MacGyver tackled to the ground," Swain said.

"What are the chances she got out? Will we find her?"

"There would be nothing, Sir; we'll be lucky if we can find her wedding ring," Dutchy said as they looked at the twisted mess in front of them.

An hour later, MacGyver came to. She coughed because of the smoke. Her ears were ringing. She thought about what happened and remembers the suicide bomber and then jumping over the counter, pulling it over on top of herself. She was knocked out when the bomb exploded. She didn't know how long she was out.

She managed to lift the counter three inches for air. It was dark, but she also could see lights. She tried to lift it more but couldn't. She looked to either side the best she could, then she was able to move the counter two inches one way. She moved just a little, and then she did it again until she was able to lift it off her completely.

MacGyver slowly sat up and was hit with vertigo. She took in some deep breaths until her head stopped spinning. Then she slowly stood up and looked around. Seeing the destruction, she took one careful step at a time, following the light to where the exit used to be.

Outside, the shocked crew started heading back to Hammersley. Two Dads stopped, looked back at the building, and saw someone walking out.

"MACGYVER! SHE'S ALIVE!" Two Dads yelled then ran toward her.

Everyone stopped and turned to see someone standing at the exit. They ran towards her. MacGyver stood outside looking around when she heard her name and saw Two Dads running towards her.

"You're alive!" MacGyver looks at him in a daze as the others show up.

"MacGyver! Can you hear me?" Swain asked.

"Swain…barely, ears ringing, ask me in an hour," she answered.

"What happened?" Mike asked. She looked at him and smiled.

"Read my report, Sir." She turned to Swain as she closes her eyes and then opens them again.

"MacGyver?" Swain asked.

"Vertigo, migraine, ringing ears, I…. I" then her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed in Swain's arms.

He laid her down and checked her over. "Lets' get her back to Hammersley, Sir," Swain said. He and Dutchy pick her up and carry her as they rush back to the docks and into the wardroom.

Bird and Swain took care of MacGyver. The crew was shocked when they saw Swain and Dutchy carrying MacGyver on board. Most of the crew waited outside the wardroom until they all knew what was happening to MacGyver.

MacGyver came to. "Swain, she's awake," Bird said. Swain walks over to her

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

She took a deep breath, "Ringing's almost gone, still got a headache," then she slowly started to sit up

"Whoa, lie down," Swain admonishes.

"Nope," she said as she stubbornly sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

"Sit rep, Swain."

"Not now."

"Swain, please."

"Everyone got out, there were a few wounded, but that was caused by the shattering of the glass windows. We found the woman bomber. She died when she was hit by a car, the bomb fell apart, we were lucky it didn't go off."

"Sounds like it's alright, and the third bomber?"

"No sign of him."

"Ok," she rubs her forehead.

"Panadol, please."

"Sure" Swain went to get a bottle of water and two tablets.

"MacGyver, how did you know that they were suicide bombers?" Bird asked.

"I saw one once when I was in Iran; it was a young boy. He was carrying a backpack with the bomb in it. When it went off, several people were wounded. We were called in to help with the wounded, and I noticed a woman nearby, and I could tell by how her clothing fit that something wasn't right. I went over to her and saw the look on her face when she pulled out the dead man's switch. I grabbed it and her hand and yelled for help as I tackled her to the ground. We managed to tape her hand to the detonator. An Army explosives expert was able to defuse the bomb. If I haven't been there and saw that woman, many lives would have been lost."

"Did you received a medal?" Bird asked.

"I did. Commendation for Gallantry ribbon. I was nineteen years old."

"Wow, you were young!"

"I was." Swain passed MacGyver the two tablets and a bottle of water.

"I'll let the boss know that you're ok," Bird said.

"You should know by now that I'm a tough nut to crack," Swain and Brid grin as she got off the bed.

"I'm going to go and have a shower, then bed. Oh, who's got my phone?"

"Boss does."

"Ok, thanks. Swain, Bird, what a crazy night, ey?"

"It sure was alright."

Macgyver walked over, opened the door, and stepped outside to find most crew there smiling at her.

"Are you ok?" Mike asked.

"I'll be fine once I've had a shower and sleep. We will talk in the morning, Sir."

"Alright," they watch her walk away. Mike turns to Swain. "Is she alright?"

"She's fine, Sir, although how she survived the bombing, I don't know."

"It's going to be one hell of a report to read," Kate said

"All true, X," Dutchy said.

The next morning after breakfast, MacGyver was in the ship's office typing up her report about what happened at the nightclub the night before. She was typing away when she heard voices outside the closed door. She recognized several crew members then she heard an unknown female voice.

"Commander Flynn, I'm Madeline Cruise from ASICO. I heard about the bombing last night. We've connected it to a terrorist group that I've been after." MacGyver stops and turns to the closed door.

"You knew about this?"

"Not until after the bombing. I believe a crew member saw what happened?"

"Several crew members were at the nightclub last night."

"But I understand that one of them took down one of the suicide bombers."

"How do you know about this? It just happened," Dutchy said.

"I know people in authority from there. So, Captain, I need to talk to the crew member in question while we head to these coordinates." MacGyver waited.

"X, order close up and take Hammersley out. Head to these coordinates." Mike hands her the paper.

"Yes, Sir."

"Now, Captain, where was the crew member."

"She was with the bomber while everyone evacuated the building to safety," Charge said.

"You were there?"

"Yes, so was the X, Swain, Two Dads, and Dutchy."

"Who was the one that was with the bomber?"

"Petty Officer June Roth. We call her MacGyver. She was in the building when it blew," Dutchy said.

"Where is she now? I was told she miraculously survived."

MacGyver stood up just as Kate called over the close-up parties over the P.A.

Leaving the ship's office, she saw a woman in civilian clothes with the Captain. MacGyver looked at her up and down then looked at her face.

"You looking for me?" MacGyver asks.

"You're MacGyver."

"Yeah. Who are you?"

"Madeline Cruise. I'm here about last night's bombing."

"Right, well, you'll have to wait until I'm free to answer any of your questions, Ms. Cruise. Right now, I'm busy."

"I've got approval from Fleet Command to be here and to ask any questions I want and for any Navy Ship to take me wherever I need to go."

"Where's your letter, Ms. Cruise."

"On my laptop."

"Right… how convenient you didn't print it out."

"MacGyver…"

She turns to Mike. "Sir, I will not answer any of her questions until you get the approval from Fleet Command or even from the admiral of the fleet himself. We know nothing about Ms. Cruise. She could be a terrorist herself who could be here to get navy information for all we know. You know what I'm like, Sir."

"I'll make the call."

"Thank you, Sir. I hope Knocker doesn't get her panties in a bunch because she has to call Fleet Command about this."

"MacGyver, you shouldn't talk like that."

"The call, Sir, while I get back to my report." She steps back into the office and closes the door.

Mike turns to Madeline. "MacGyver is right, Ms. Cruise; until I hear from NAVCOM, you are not to question my crew. Excuse me," and he walks down to his cabin.

When MacGyver finished with the report, she emailed it to Mike, NAVCOM, and Fleet Command with a note. Then she left and headed to the bridge since they were out at sea. She stepped forward to Mike. "Any word from NAVCOM?"

Mike had made his call and turned to see MacGyver. "Maxine's going to find out if it's legit or not."

"Thanks, Sir. Sorry about what I said before."

"You were right about Maxine. How's the head?"

"I'll live. So, why have we stopped?"

"We're picking something up."

"Any ideas?"

"All we know is that it's coming by plane."

"Sir, the plane will be over the drop zone in three minutes," RO called out.

"Thanks, RO"

MacGyver went to the back of Hammersley. She noticed a RHIB had been launched and was waiting near Hammersley when a plane flew over. MacGyver watched as four people and a box came out from the back of the aircraft, and she noticed straight away that one of the jumpers was in trouble. His parachute had opened too late, and he crashed into the sea. The RHIB immediately went over to take care of the wounded jumper.

Then she looked up and saw that one of the men was floating close to the ship, and she watched as he landed on the aft deck. MacGyver walked over to the guy, her guard up until he removed his goggles and the top part of his wetsuit. He turned and smiled.

"I said I'll drop in on you one day."

"Jim!" she said, shocked to see him. Then ran into his arms, and they hugged and kissed.

"Missed you," he said.

"I missed you too. What are you doing here besides dropping in on your wife?"

"Can't say"

"It's to do with the suicide bombing from last night."

Jim looked at her, surprised. "How did you know?"

"I risked my life to save everyone from the nightclub and in the surrounding buildings from one of the bombers. He was going to blow up a nightclub full of people; some of the crew and I were there."

"How did you survive the blast?"

"I'll talk to the Captain to see if it's ok for you to read my report."

"Sure," They turn and see the RIHB picking up the other men and the box.

"Jim," Mike and Madeline walk over to them.

"Mike! It's great to see you again," shaking hands.

"Likewise. You sure know how to make an entrance."

"Thanks. I said to June that I'll drop in one day, and I have," he said, grinning.

"That you have. MacGyver, Maxine called. She heard from Fleet Command and what Ms. Cruse said is true."

"And my report, Sir?"

"She can have a copy of it."

"Ok, Sir, with your approval, can Jim read it?"

"Of course."

"Thank you, Sir. If you'll excuse me, Swain's going to need my help with one of your men, Jim."

"Sure, we talk later."

"I would like that." MacGyver walked over to the RIHB that had just. Swain helped the wounded SAS soldier down the ladder.

"He's got a dislocated shoulder," Swain reported.

"Thanks, Swain. Come with me and let me get you fixed up."

"Do you know what you're doing?"

"I do. So what's your name? I'm MacGyver."

"Stan Wilson. That's a strange name you have."

She laughs as they walk to the hatch."Well, I'm a strange person, Stan," they walk down and into the wardroom. While talking to Stan, MacGyver gathers what she needs.

"Roth… you're not any related to Jim Roth?"

"Your captain, yes I am. I'm his wife."

"His wife… he said his wife is in the Navy but had no idea it was you. You're one lucky lady."

"Thanks, Stan. So what about you, are you married?"

"Only to my job."

"Ahhhh." They continue to talk for a couple minutes, then MacGyver pops the shoulder back in its socket when he was least expected it.

"That hurt," he said as she moved his arm into the sling.

"Well, it would've been more painful if you knew when I was going to do it. It's less painful if you are completely relaxed."

"Your right. I've had to have it done before."