Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Macgyver. They belong to Henry Winkler, Paramount and associates.

*'s indicate one's thoughts

Mac for Hire

Chapter 3: Death is fleeting

Unemotional, Macgyver stared off into space.
"Don't you have anything to say?" another officer questioned him in disbelief.
Macgyver shook his head and blinked not once, but twice. "Nikki, did you say Nikki Car.."
"That's right," the first officer replied.
"That, that's not possible, I would never.."
"You must be out of your gourd fellow, because as sure as I am standing here, you.."
"Actually captain," a third officer spoke up, "she isn't dead, just seriously injured."
Greatly relieved, Macgyver let out the breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding.

**********************

Nikki winced in pain as she struggled to sit up. "Macgyver is still in there somewhere!"
"Take it easy there Nikki," Pete soothed. Hesitantly, she eased back against the pillows.
"He didn't shoot me, so that proves a part of Macgyver is still in there somewhere," she insisted.
"Yeah, so he just attacks you with a Swiss army knife instead," Pete responded in disgust.
"But, don't you see Pete.."
"Oh, I saw all right. It's not in his nature, but so is the fact that he would never hurt another living soul in such a violent manner," Pete pointedly reminded Nikki.
"Right, but when I find him.." she threatened, an murderous gleam in her eyes.

********************

Dazed, Macgyver allowed the police to push him inside the squad car.
*I can't remember a darn thing! Highly frustrated, Macgyver asked himself, "Why can't I remember?" *Sure, she drives me nuts, but I would never hurt Nikki..right?* Doubtful of his actions, he had the very unsettling feeling that the squad car was the best place for him to be right now.

*********************

Pete reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the vibrating beeper. "I'll be right back. It's the police," he said gruffly. Minutes later, Nikki watched expectantly as Pete re-entered the room. "I have good news. Or as good as it gets anyway. They have Macgyver downtown, in jail. They just picked him up."
"Picked him up? Where?"
Pete frowned. "At the state penitentiary. The police arrested him just after he helped a prisoner escape."
Nikki frowned darkly. "Let me guess, our pretty little assassin."
"You got it."
"Well, how did Macgyver respond when they arrested him?"
"Very cold and stoic, until they mentioned your name. Then he seemed to come around. Unfortunately, Macgyver has evidently no recollection of injuring you or freeing Deborah."
Thoughtfully, Nikki stared at him. "Pete, I've got it! What if Deborah brainwashed him?"
Stroking his chin, he looked at her in surprise. "You know, you could be right," he surmised. "Well, I'm going downtown to bail Mac out of jail. He's lucky they're not keeping him as a permanent resident for his crimes."
Ready to argue, Nikki looked at Pete darkly.
Pete eyed her soberly. "We both want to protect Mac, Nikki, but those weren't Macgyver's eyes we were looking into."