Season 02 Episode 20: Skyscraper - Power

Bewildered Bozer went to the door. After the rescue of the boy and the recovery of the stolen EMP Matty gave the team three days off. That's why the ringing of the door bell was unexpected.
"Alex? I didn't know you make home visits."
The nurse standing in front of their house confused Bozer only more.
"I don't do that." She answered friendly, while she came in. "Jack asked me to come by to look after Mac before I start my work today. He wanted to be sure, that everything's okay. Honestly I couldn't make sense of his explanations. He said something about quantum lessons and very intelligent unicorns."
"I didn't know Jack knows the word quantum lessons." Bozer closed the door again.
"He doesn't know it, but I think he wanted to say something like this."
"Oh- okay. Mac is out at the fire pit, he barely sleeps. I'm not sure, if he slept last night at all."

The fact doesn't calm Alex. She went through the living room and got out on the deck. He looked at her, nodded a bit, but doesn't seem to be surprised.
"Jack?"
She confirmed with a nod, seeing the dark circles under his eyes. "Mac, you need to sleep." He wanted to protest, but she silenced him with a simple movement of her hand. "You did a great job at Shanghai, but someday it's too much for your body. You need your recovery like everyone else. I can give you something to get asleep easier or you do something you know you can sleep without problems normally. Better to rest for a few hours than not at all. If you sleep on the couch, that's fine by me."

Mac was mentally hyped up. The mission went on a lot longer than planned. But when does a mission went like planned with Mac and Jack? The arms dealers were a way bigger terrorist group that prepared for attacks all over the US. Mac and Jack followed the money transfer to a location in Albania based on the results of Nikki's research. They lay low on surveillance when Mac was detected and captured. Jack couldn't prevent it. Only after four days he could free his partner in a suicidal action. The condition of Mac was at least bothering. He was drugged up by the terrorists and hindered to sleep. Adrenalized, but totally tired out at the same time and whacked, Mac wasn't helpful during his escape. Jack shot his way out and got somehow to the exfil point. The chopper brought a hysterical laughing Mac and a bloodied Jack back to the DXS Jet. After making sure that Jack's injuries were only superficial, the paramedic on board wanted to get Mac under control. The unknown drugs prohibited to give him some tranquilizers, because of not knowing which complications would follow. Mac philosophized about the theory of relativity, space-time shifts, gave a lecture about quantum mechanics and went over to astrophysics and the very best usage of paper-clips in outer space. The paramedic and Jack were equally happy when they finally reached Los Angeles.
No one was able to take blood-samples from Mac to find out more about the drugs. Patty didn't allow them to overpower and restrain him for that. Not after his recent experiences at captivity. So she sent him back home accompanied by Jack hopefully to wear out and getting better by himself in familiar surroundings. Jack wasn't happy at all to hear more scientific explanations he couldn't follow, but he would do everything for Mac. So he did the first and most important thing that came to his mind, when he needed to calm down himself: He started 'Die hard'.

Mac knew the movie, but didn't see it for years. After some pacing around he sat down on the couch next to Jack and commented every stunt action of Bruce Willis on being realistic or not. After about half an hour he got silent. Jack noticed Mac's head leaning heavy on his shoulder and his body following sinking against his own. Finally deep, regular breaths indicated a peaceful sleep. Jack sent thankfully an arrow prayer to heaven, brought his sleeping partner into a more comfortable position and watched the rest of the movie without disturbing comments.

Mac smiled at Alex. "I know what I can do. Tell Jack, that everything's okay."
"Mh. I trust you, but if I hear from Bozer that you didn't sleep I let you being dragged to Phoenix Medical and enforce you to sleep. That's not a joke."
"Not necessary. I will follow your order."
Alex wasn't fully convinced, but she hoped that Mac was reasonable.

Three days later, Bozer told her that Mac started 'Die hard' and began to snore instantly on the couch. His body took his very much needed rest. When he awoke his neck was a little bit stiff but he felt refreshed and even more after sleeping through the next two 'Die hard' movies.