Season 02 Episode 14: Mardi Gras Beads + Chair

Mac sat on a chair and couldn't even scratch his nose with the bandages on both hands. Since he wore them, he always had the feeling that something tickled somewhere. He went nuts! On the outside nobody could see his mood. If Alex would only guess it, he surely wasn't allowed to go home. So he just looked at the shining white on the places where he normally could see his fingers.
"Can I go now?"
„No, Mac. Matty's coming soon and I will see where you get your bed."
"What?" Mac couldn't believe what he heard. He was so brave! No scratching, no pleading. "No way!"
"Sorry, Mac. Instructions." Alex watched him with a little pity in her eyes. She knew, that every muscle and nerve inside of him tried to avoid staying at the medical ward. Mostly he was fine. A few bruises, but nothing critical or unusual. Only his hands didn't look like they should.

Matty came into the room and Alex informed her about the results and injuries. In Mac's ears it doesn't sound promising. He would have chosen different words.
"I'm fine. I can go home." His reclamation was self-reliant.
"I don't think so. Before you mutilate yourself next time, blondie, think about the consequences. Do you really expect Bozer to clean your ass?"
Matty's gaze was cold as ice.
"I can do it myself." This time his protest wasn't as convincing as before.
"Listen close, Einstein Junior! After your brain, your hands are your most important parts of your body, you still need them. I clearly won't risk anything that can lead to permanent damage. You get that? Discussion's over."
With these words Matty turned around and left the room.
"Yes, Ma'am." Offended Mac looked down to the floor tiles.
Alex tried to cheer him up. "If everything goes as planned, you only have to stay for two or three days. We can't risk an infection and the burnings are not as harmless as you may think. But it looks like they're healing without any complications."
Mac didn't even look up. Alex wasn't sure if he listened to her.

Mac balanced on a tool box, which he placed on a round wooden stool. With his fingertips he just reached the box where his old model railroad got dusty. It had a transformer and Mac wanted to use it for his new project. A remote-controlled rocket. His father worked in his home office and Mac knew that he shouldn't disturb him. That's why he tried to get the box down from the shelf by himself. Bit by bit he pulled the box with his fingertips nearer to the edge and finally he felt the weight coming in his direction. Only a few inches-
The box toppled over faster than he thought. Mac tried to get his balance back with making a step behind, but there was only plain air. With a surprised yell he fell down from his shaky, improvised ladder. He wanted to support his fall with one hand, heard the cracking of his fingers way to loud and yelled again. The rumble of the falling tool box, the railroad and a few more tools predominated his cries. Into the bargain the edge of the railroad box crashed on his fingers, too. The top sprang open and everything inside scattered over the floor.
Mac panted in pain, two fingers of his right hand stood away from the palm in an unnatural angle. The tears ran down his cheeks. The door to the garage flew open.

"Angus! What did you do now?"
The angry look on his father's face went over the chaos and back to the origin of that. Mac held his injured, shaking hand in front of him. James sighed frustrated.
"How can you be so awkward?"
He grasped the left arm of his son and pulled him up.
"Get yourself together! You're not a baby anymore! We have to go to the hospital to get it right again. One day you'll mutilate yourself. You still need your hands, kid!"
Mac feared his legs giving in, but his father just hauled him to the car.
A few weeks later the cast was off again and Mac could use his fingers totally normal. He sat at the table with his father, painted the last pieces of his rocket and finally glued them. It was one of his most peaceful memories. The next day they started the rocket. It was a wonderful weekend.

Mac knew by now that Matty watched them at that time. It was on the restored movie before it went up in flames. Could Matty hear them? Her choice of words was similar to his father's ones. Mac was reminded on that event when he was barely nine years old. Maybe Matty was so common with his father, that she used similar words?
"Matty had no right to humiliate you that way." Alex looked at her patient. "Unfortunately she's right. You need help with nearly everything as long as the bandages have to stay on."
Mac answered quiet. "I know."
It was embarrassing only to think about it and to imagine that he had to ask for help the next days for everything. He wanted to have Jack, but his partner was busy getting to know his 'deceased wife'. Mac never wanted to ruin that. At that thought he had to smile. The next days were not intended to be a walk in the park for him, but he would do everything exactly the same way. Jack always did so much for him, saved him more times than he could count. A few burnings were a cheap service in return.