Mac took a second before he stood up. The world still spun like the ride hadn't ground to a halt. But he knew it had because Bozer was already on his feet.
Ri put a hand on his arm. "You Okay, Mac? You're kind of green and this wasn't even one of the really high ones."
He appreciated the way she asked. There was genuine concern there, but also a sort of teasing lilt that would let him brush it off if he didn't want to talk about it.
"I'm fine," he said, hearing it come out as almost a question. "I think," he mumbled like it was an admission of guilt. He shook his head to clear it. "Must be the heat," he said as he got slowly to his feet with the help of Riley's offered hand. "Last couple of rides have hit me funny."
Riley stayed close as they exited the Mad Hatter's giant teacup. "Let's get something to drink," she suggested.
"Sure. That's a good idea."
Jack and Bozer were standing by the exit, looking at them funny. "What's takin' you two so long?" Jack demanded.
Riley jumped in before Mac would have to say anything. "I was recruiting Mac into my conspiracy to convince you to go get us all Dole Whips."
Jack made a face and whined, "Dude, the lines are way too long!"
"But they're like the best part of coming here!" Riley laughed. "You waited in line the last time you brought me!"
"Yeah, well, cute little kids with pigtails have that effect on even big tough Deltas. But the grown up version of them should know I'm too old to wanna stand there for an hour for fake pineapple, no matter how cute they still are!"
"I could put my hair in pigtails if that would help," she smirked. "I want something sweet."
Bozer pointed up the midway. "What about churros? We still haven't gotten those and they're basically the whole reason Mac agreed to come."
Mac grinned. Eating something and getting a drink actually sounded great. Maybe that would help him shake off the draggy feeling he was getting. "I'm down for that, but I don't want to stand between a woman and her whipped whatever those Dole things really are."
Riley looped one arm through Mac's, another through Bozer's and tipped her chin at Jack.
"These guys are letting you off easy, Old Man. Lead the way before we all change our minds."
0-0-0
Mac only had a small order of churros, but he'd downed two large lemonades and sat sucking on the ice cubes while everyone else finished eating their weight in fried dough. Now that he was tired, his throat sort of hurt again and the thought of the drive home was starting to be a little daunting. He glanced at his watch and sighed.
Riley tipped him a knowing half smile. Then she crumpled up her napkin and chucked it into the paper tray with the last of her churro crumbs. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm kind of beat."
Bozer groaned. "It's still early!"
"Yeah, but there's the drive back to your place, and traffic was already stupid early. Then Jack's gotta drop me at home. Then I'll have to call for takeout. It'll be like midnight before I get dinner!"
"Aren't you too full of churros to be worried about dinner?"
"Just thinkin' ahead, Jack."
Mac saw an opening. "She's got a point. By the time we get to the parking lot it'll be almost dinner time as it is."
Bozer groaned again. "But we still haven't done Space Mountain!"
Jack grinned. "Yeah, ya old sticks in the mud. We gotta do Space Mountain!"
"I guess," Riley conceded with a glance at Mac.
At least it was an out, Mac figured. "I feel like once in my life was enough for that. But if it'll make you two happy…"
"It will!" Bozer interrupted. "It definitely will."
0-0-0
By the time they made their way to the famous indoor coaster, stood in line, and ridden it, it was past dinner time. Mac had to admit, it was a pretty good ride. At least, he enjoyed it more than he had as a kid. He still hated heights, but after the things he'd had to do in his life, he no longer constantly thought about how high off the ground he was when he couldn't even see it.
Jack and Boze clearly enjoyed it as they were still woohooing as they walked away. Mac half smiled and shook his head as the heads of various parents turned at his friends high fiving and making more noise than a group of teenagers.
Riley fell into step next to him. "We better get the children home before they get any more keyed up. We'll never get them settled down and tucked in at this rate."
Mac snorted a laugh. "We should have gotten them a sitter." He was getting hoarse.
Riley laughed lightly as they all headed in the general direction of the parking lot. "You want me to drive?"
He cleared his throat. "I … no, I can … Why?"
She shrugged. "You just look beat. And … not to channel Jack or anything, but you kind of owned up to not feeling great after the teacups. You know that's not like you."
Mac returned the shrug. "I'm fine." It came out a little more raspy.
"Okay. Lemme know if you change your mind. I love driving the new truck."
"I'm good … But thanks." He knew she could hear the change in his voice. He stopped at a water fountain and took a drink. The water was warm and his stomach dipped unpleasantly and he felt just a little dizzy. Maybe he would let Riles drive.
He straightened and started to turn to say so. A tall man in a dark jacket ran into him and it nearly knocked him off his feet. "Excuse me," the man said, but kept walking.
Murdoc.
Mac spun wildly, trying to get eyes on his enemy, but didn't see him. Riley put a hand on his shoulder, "Mac?"
Mac's eyes finally found the guy who ran into him. Tousled brown hair, dark eyes, like Murdoc, sure. But that was it. He wasn't even wearing a dark coat. It was a purple t-shirt. Mac's brain has just seen the height, the dark hair and eyes, and filled in details that made this random park goer into his enemy. That had happened a few times when Mac had been sick over the last few months. Just, usually, it happened on a mission, not someplace he was hanging out with his friends trying to just have a good time to distract himself from feeling a little crappy.
The man lifted a little girl onto his shoulders with a big warm grin. "Horsey back to the hotel?"
"Horsey, daddy! Horsey!"
Mac felt eyes on him. Not just Riley's anymore. Jack and Bozer stood staring at him, too.
He took out his keys and handed them to Riley. "You know what, if you really don't mind, I think I'll take you up on your offer to drive."
"Sure thing, Mac." Riley took his keys.
"And why's that,?" Jack asked pointedly.
"I … um … I guess I really don't feel so hot and Ri said—"
He was interrupted by Jack's triumphant, "I knew it! I knew you were coming down with something!"
"Since when?" Mac asked defensively.
"Since we landed in Latvia, Genius. I just knew you'd never admit it to me!"
"So you and Ri hatched a conspiracy?" he asked with a hurt look at Riley.
"No!" Riley defended immediately. "No conspiracy. Jack didn't say anything about you in Latvia. He was too busy trying to get Inka's number." She smiled gently. "I got as far as worried about you all on my own."
"Boze?" Mac demanded.
Bozer flashed a sheepish grin. "There was maybe some slight conspiracy on my part. You were snoring so loud last night, I could hear you through the wall. That only happens when you get one of your sore throats."
Mac sighed. "Yeah, I guess I'm not 100% great at the moment. So, like I said, if you wanna drive, Ri, I'd appreciate it."
"You gonna call the doc when we get back to your place?" Jack asked.
"It's really not a bad one this time. I'll just crash and push fluids like they said last time. It'll be fine."
Jack raised an eyebrow at the phrase 'last time' but didn't say anything. "Alright then, let's un-Disney and get you home so you can get to fine."
Mac nodded, so that's what they did.
Or they tried anyway.
By Monday morning, Mac felt significantly less than fine when he rolled out of bed. "Ugh," he growled, barely audibly. Then he got out his phone and did what his friends had been bugging him to do since he'd finally conceded defeat on Saturday and admitted he wasn't feeling well.
He dialed Medical.