A/N: Hi again. Wasn't planning on uploading for a while but there's been no announced air date for season 5 and I've been spiraling. So… to cope, I give us Hurt Locker.
As always, let me know if you guys are interested, if not, I can go back to the drawing board.
Read & Review.
Disclaimer: I do not own MacGyver or these characters, just borrowing for free fun.
Hurt Locker
Chapter One- Now, Rather than Later
The day started like any other day. They were piled into the war room. Everyone except Russ as he was still recovering from his injuries after facing off with Codex a month ago.
Matty was giving the mission but Mac had turned on his selective hearing as he studied Riley from the corner of his eyes.
Something about arms dealers he heard Matty say but he can't stop thinking about why she's been so distant the last few weeks. She moved out two days after they put a dent in Codex's operation. She didn't even tell him, he caught her with a box in her hand a few minutes before midnight. She said she wanted to surprise him but he didn't need to be a genius to know that was a lie or at least a partial truth. If he hadn't caught her, he probably would have found she had moved out when he found her room empty.
Had he done something to upset her? But what?
Downtown Los Angelos he heard, Cereto Consolidated building, Matty continued. He was getting the gist of things, some very bad arms dealers were about to sell a large shipment of armor piercing rounds to the city's worst. He tried to catch her eye but she looked away without missing a beat. She was listening attentively to Matty or pretending to, she had a small frown on her face from concentrating so hard. What had happened to her? To them? He didn't do anything to upset her, in fact, he thought the Codex mission brought them closer together. The way she never doubted him, risked her life for him. Not to mention two near death experiences they made it out of. He had not told her how much he appreciated her partnership going under with Codex but he assumed she knew. Maybe he needed vocalize his appreciation. He didn't know what else could be wrong.
He thought back to last week, when it was confirmed something was wrong with them.
They were on the plane heading to Guatemala. Desi was asleep and Bozer was watching a movie with head phones in. He took it as his chance and got out of his seat to sit next to her. She was typing away on her laptop, head phones in. She pulled them off to hang around her neck when he lowered himself next to her. Instead of a small smile, she wore a strange expression then she blinked it away as fast as it had appeared.
"Hey,"
"What's up Mac?" she said in a cool and steady and voice that made him wonder if he were imagining her odd behaviour. It really had been him she was avoiding, she seemed to get along with everyone else as usual. Which reinforced the idea that he had done to something to upset her, he just had to figure out what.
"Just checking in, why does it feel like I only ever see you at work since you moved out?"
She shrugged, her eyes were looking anywhere but his, "Guess I've been busy,"
He doesn't buy a word of it. A muscle in his jaw twitched, whatever it was she wasn't being forthcoming. She usually left work with everyone else. He didn't know what else could be taking up so much of her time. Could she be dating again? The last time she was this evasive she had been dating Aubrey. Maybe it was happening again.
"Alright, I hear that," he played along, "How's the new place?"
"It's good," she nodded, "Yeah, comfortable."
He didn't even know where the apartment was. She hadn't had him over since she moved. Apparently Bozer had been there tons. They were having sleepovers like they were twelve and for a reason unbeknownst to him, that made him really uncomfortable.
He tried again, "You know, when we get back. I think we're due some skee ball. It's been too long."
Her eyes flicker with something he can't place before she hesitantly nods.
"Yeah, sure, maybe, if I have time." she said though her eyes said the opposite.
Scraping his pride off the floor, he got up and said, "Well I'll talk to you when we land." She doesn't answer. Instead, she just puts her headphones back over her ears and continues scrolling on her laptop.
He went back to his seat feeling even further away from her. How had he made things worst?
That had been it. It was strictly business after that. Interacting at work and then going their separate ways once they left the Phoenix. They never made it to skee ball. He needed to confront her, face her head on and get some answers. After the mission he would do just that, even if he had to corner her, he would get the truth out of her.
Riley Davis was not getting away from him.
He returned his attention to Matty again, she was saying something about a list of buyers on a decrypted hardrive.
"You guys have to leave now if you want to get there before the buy takes place." Matty said. It was the first full sentence he heard her say all morning. He needed to get answers from Riley asap because it was throwing him off his focus. He didn't want to live in a world without Riley.
But after the mission, there would be time for their personal conundrum.
They all got up to leave when Matty called after him, "Hey blondie, we don't need to hear you and Desire going at it on the coms. Save your disputes for your own time. Got it?"
Embarrassed, Mac clamped his lips shut and gave her a firm nod. He bowed his head and brushed his way past the others.
He couldn't be more embarrassed but he also couldn't find fault in Matty's words. He and Desi had become increasingly argumentative and that spilled over into work. Every week it was something else. This week, they were arguing about the meet the parents dinner. Mac had simply stated that he wasn't sure it was the right time for them to meet and she had taken his words apart, looking for different meanings and interpretations. Another personal conundrum that would have to wait till after the mission.
They split into two groups and took two SUVs. It wasn't lost on Mac how Riley made it her business to ride with Bozer as opposed to him. Seriously, what did he do?
He and Desi rode in tension filled silence until they made it to the destination and had to speak to each for the sake of the job.
The mission was simple enough, recover the encrypted hardrive and stop the sale of armor piercing ammunition. Riley and Bozer were going to pose as a couple interested in acquiring the services of the security firm. They went in first and Mac and Desi remained outside waiting for the all clear.
He leaned against the SUV with his jaw set, she did the same. Her arms were folded high on her chest and while Mac could see how badly she wanted to talk about it she didn't say a word. He hoped she would keep it that way lest Matty over head them again.
He just realized not only Matty could hear them. Bozer and Riley probably heard their dysfunction too. He didn't like that.
"Guys, you better get in here," Bozer said over coms. He and Desi went racing into the lobby.
The lobby of the building is empty, in fact the entire building looks deserted. There were papers strewn everywhere, phones were off the hook and the furniture was at a disarray.
"What the hell happened here?" Desi said.
They looked around and found nothing that would clue them so they decided to check the other floors. There were twenty floors in total which meant it was going to be a long day.
They got onto an elevator and took it to the fifteenth floor. When they got off, they found themselves in the conference room the meeting was to take place. It was completely abandoned like the rest of the building. The room was littered with briefcases and manila folders.
"Somebody must have tipped them off we were coming?" Bozer suggested.
"Talk to me people," Matty said over their coms, "Riley and Bozer start looking for the hardrive. With any luck, they left it behind in the rush. Mac, Desi make sure the building is clear and see if you can get a lead on where our arms dealers are going. And find out what the hell happened to the employees of the company. I'll get forensics over there as soon as possible."
When Mac looked around for Riley she dropped her bag and was already in search of the hardrive.
"I'll start here I guess," she said, their eyes met and he nodded before she looked away.
He wanted to go over to her and beg her to tell him what's wrong but he knew there will be time for that. Later.
Bozer took off for the lobby and he and Desi began clearing floors from top to bottom.
When they get to the 11th floor Desi finally blurted out what had been on her mind.
"You know, if you don't want to meet my parents you could just say so instead of pretending." she said.
Mac grunted and signaled her to take off her coms.
With his coms off he said, "Where is this coming from? Why can't you take me at my word?"
"You've been distant Mac," she said, in a soft tone that simmers his anger.
"What are you talking about?"
"When's the last time we had sex?"
Her accusations were scandalous at first but when he really thought about it, maybe he had been. So, in true Mac fashion he dodged further emotional warfare.
"Not the time Desi," he put on his coms again and was met with Riley's screams and Bozer and Matty yelling for Mac to get to her. He didn't know what transpired in the few seconds his coms were off, he's not even conscious of when his legs started moving but he was running toward her. Forgoing the slow elevator, he took the stairs three at a time. His adrenaline was through the roof and propelled his movements faster.
"I'm coming! I'm on my way," he yelled over coms. He didn't know if she could hear him, all he heard was the scuffle she was in and grunts of exertion. He was running faster than he's ever ran before. He probably pulled all his muscles trying to get to her but he didn't care.
When he got to the conference room his heart was about to squeeze through his ears when he didn't see her. His eyes frantically searched the conference room but no Riley. He then noticed her tan fingers holding on to the edge of the opened window.
"Riley," he yelled for her as he rushed to the window a moment before her fingers slipped. His heart completely sunk and his breath became trapped in his throat. He can't help but picture the worst. When he poked his head through the window, Riley was lying on the ground, completely unresponsive.
Riley rolled out of bed with a splitting headache. She had stayed up way too late the night before. Having Bozer and Leanna over to cheer her up with a movie marathon seemed like a good idea at the time. The lovebirds however, had fled before the third movie to 'do laundry' but Riley knew better. Unless laundry was now done naked.
She fetched a glass of water from the kitchen and picked up her phone to check her messages on social media. When she got back to her bedroom, one message in particular had her sit up in bed, starring wide eyed at the phone.
She had messaged Aubrey last night.
2:15pm 03/2020
I know u probably don't want to talk to me but I really want to see you.
She slipped down into the bed with a dramatic groan. What was she thinking? Well she knew what she was thinking, that six beers were a good idea. Coupled with the crippling loneliness she felt, she had clearly spiraled. Completely mortified, she bit her inner cheek as she stared at the message.
Aubrey responded this morning.
Aubrey 6:12 am 03/2020
I don't know what to say. Haven't heard from you in months. What's changed?
Absolutely nothing had changed. Was she supposed to message him back? What would she say? She had one too many beers? Or she was feeling especially lonely last night? Or psych?
She slapped her forehead. Great. She would have to deal with it but later.
She finished her water and went to get ready for work. Lately she had seen her job as a chore more than anything else. She would come home drained, physically and mentally.
It took a lot of work to avoid Mac. She thought she was being subtle until he cornered her on the plane a few days ago. She honestly didn't expect him to pick up on anything. He had been so preoccupied lately, trying to find a lead on Codex new operation and fighting with Desi.
It had been easy for her to float to the background and move around him but it seemed he was more entuned with her than she initially thought.
When she got to work, she caught up with Bozer on his way to the war room.
"How was laundry last night," she teased.
Bozer smirked and did nothing short of a dance in the hall, "better every time," he bragged.
"Ughhh, okay okay." Riley covered her ears.
"Remind to never ask what my best friend and little brother gets up to in the night time."
His face got serious and he pointed an accusatory finger in her face, "I told you I'm the big brother."
Grinning, Riley rolled her eyes. They continued down the hall when they saw Mac, also on his way to the war room. Her smile dropped and she cleared her throat nervously. He smiled when he saw them.
He made it so hard to stay away from him looking like that. Those fucking eyes.
"Hey guys," he said.
"Hey," she forced a smile, "I'll see you guys in there." She left him and Bozer chatting and only released the shaky breath she had been holding when there was a closed door between them.
Less than an hour later she and Bozer were in the SUV on their way.
"So, where's Leanna?" She tried to stair the conversation as far away from herself.
"I thought she was your best friend," Bozer mocked.
Riley flashed him a dirty look but he didn't see it as he was driving.
"I'm afraid to check my messages so I haven't spoken to her today."
"What's wrong with your messages?" he asked and she cursed herself in her head. She walked right into it. How were they now talking about her?
"Aubrey texted me," she said, omitting the fact that she texted first in a drunken stupor.
"Yikes. Case of the ex huh?"
Riley shrugged, a line forming between her eyebrows.
"Something like that,"
"Maybe he changed his mind. Forgave you for the lies?"
She doubted that. That had been the least of why they broke up and she was taking that secret to her grave.
"No, I don't think that's it."
Bozer briefly glanced at her then back at the road.
"What if that were an option. What if he wants you back?"
She shook her head. It's a good thing this was all hypothetical.
"Well for one thing it won't happen. Like ever." she said.
"Humor me," Bozer pressed on.
Riley shook her head. "I can barely figure out my feelings for one guy much less two. It would be a disaster."
"Right, because you and Mac -" She cut him off, "there is no me and Mac. I'm not going to blow up his life and my life by-" she didn't even know what. She couldn't tell him how she felt because she herself didn't really know how it felt.
When they pulled into the parking lot of the Cereto building Bozer said, "You're not confused about your feelings for Mac, you're in denial about them." Bozer turned off the ignition and left her with those words.
Riley pushed the conversation to the back of her head and got out of the car. She would have plenty of time to sort through her feelings. But later.
She and Bozer entered the building holding hands, careful to keep up their covers. He didn't press any further on her feelings for Mac and she was grateful he was in work mode.
When they entered the building, they found it completely abandoned. Riley's got a bad feeling immediately. It was supposed to be a routine op and now she felt like something more sinister was going on. She didn't voice any of these concerns, she didn't have any proof except the ramblings of her gut.
Even as they loaded onto the elevator and ascended into what felt like their doom, she kept quiet. No one else seemed to be as alarmed as her so she swallowed her nerves and wore her false bravado proudly.
Matty had given them new assignments and she sighed to herself at her task. Before she was left alone she caught Mac's concerned eye and was glad she would have a distraction. Searching for the hardrive. Lately it had been feeling like his eyes were only on her. She brushed the thought away and turned her attention to the task at hand.
She began looking for the hard drive in the filing cabinet to the right of the conference room. It looked like a hurricane had swept through the cabinet. There were folders and burner phones but no hard drive. She was about to tell Matty about the burner phone when she heard Desi over the cons.
"You know, if you don't want to meet my parents you could just say so instead of pretending,"
They were at the meet parents stage? Why did that hurt her so much? If she were honest, she thought they were fizzling out with all the arguments but clearly she was wrong. They were more serious than she thought.
He must have silenced her because she didn't hear more on it.
"Matty, I got some burners here. This is all very random. Something is going on here." she said.
"We'll figure it out. Get the burners back to the lab." Matty said.
"Got it," she said. She tried to push the cabinet close after she grabbed the phones but it wouldn't close. She reached between the drawer and cabinet on a hunch and her hand closed in around the hard-plastic device.
"I think I found it," she said, "I found the hardrive," she repeated.
"You saved me a lot of trouble there young lady,"
Riley whipped around to find Mason. She froze. The last time she had seen the evil strategist, he was trying to kill everyone at Phoenix. What was he doing here and what did he want with the hardrive?
He was old but still scary. She could see flashes of Charlie falling down the elevator shaft and smoke filling the halls of Phoenix. He was still a big threat despite his age.
"Hand it over," he said again, calmly.
She didn't know what to do. He was pretty old. Maybe she could outrun him. Not to mention Matty and everyone else had probably heard him on the coms. She just had to buy time until they could get to her.
She took off to his right but he quickly grabbed a fistful of her hair and dragged her back. She yelped in pain and tried to claw her way free. She pushed and kicked and heard a grunt as she landed a blow. She heard Matty and Bozer over coms but she was in such a heightened state of panic she couldn't focus on what was being said. She clawed to her feet and took off around the conference table but he cut her off on the other side of the table. He was fast for an old man.
"Give me that little girl," Riley's heart was pumping so hard, Mason reached for the hard drive and they ended up in a tug of war. Mason had clearly eaten spinach before confronting her. As the hard drive sprung from her hand the momentum came back at her all at once and the force sent her flying back. Riley reached out for something to hold on to but all she grasped was air. Fear seized her as she went tumbling out of the window. She gripped on to the window ledge for dear life. She felt her entire weight dragging her down. Tears streamed down her face a she fought for the strength to hold on. She heard Mac on her coms, yelling that he was coming for her. She didn't want to die but at least the last voice she would hear would be Mac's. There was so much more she had to do. So much she hadn't said that she at least wanted to get the opportunity. It was all clear to her in that desperate moment because her biggest regret would be not letting Mac know how she felt.
She heard Mac's voice call for her. He had found her, but it was too late. She felt her hands slipping. She couldn't hold on any longer.
The last thing she remembered was flailing in the air before everything went black.
The guilt was immeasurable. And that was before Riley's mom gave them all an earful in the hospital's waiting room. She didn't say anything he didn't already believe. They had let her down, he had let her down. She was fighting for her life because he had been reckless, negligent and flat out stupid.
No one had spoken in almost an hour. Mac was constantly on the verge of crying or hitting the wall. He couldn't decide which. He hated himself.
He pressed himself further into the wall, leaning against the vending machine. Everyone else occupied the chairs in the waiting room, including Desi. He could hardly look at her. His skin crawled thinking about the way Riley used to flinch every time they started to bicker. If she could only see them now…
He shut his eyes to stop the sting of tears. He could still feel her warm blood on his hands as he cradled her lifeless body. It was a bitter irony that the person he would lean on in a crisis was the person in the crisis. The one person he couldn't talk to now.
Matty had been trying to reach Jack. Elwood was on in his way back from Vegas and Leanna had arrived ten minutes ago. Mac couldn't look anyone in the eye. He would never let this up. It was all his fault.
When the doctor came out to talk to them, he was expecting the worst but hoping for the best. The doctor had to tell them Riley would be okay. He was not prepared to deal with the alternative.
When the doctor started to speak he knew it wasn't the good news he was hoping for. He zoned out completely, like he was in a fugue state as the doctors words echoed in his head.
Swelling in the brain
Unable to keep the swelling down
His heart stopped when he heard the words coma.
It's the last thing he heard before he made a beeline for the exit. He heard them behind him calling his name but he couldn't bear to look back. He couldn't think of anything but Riley. He failed Riley and now she was in a coma.
Riley blinked awake but had to immediately close her eyes due to the blinding, white light. Where was she? And why did it hurt to even breathe. She felt completely restricted, not to mention a tube was down her throat. That's when she started to panic. All she could do was make choking sounds because of the tube in her throat.
"Riley?" was that her mom? Had she gotten into an accident in prison or something? She began to panic more as she couldn't get up or get a word out. Her mom was at her side in an instant, touching her hair and wiping back her tears.
"Let me get the doctor," her mom said before leaving her side. Riley's heartbeat kept rising as she tried to remember how she had gotten to the hospital. But every time she tried to focus, she got distracted by the pain in the back of her head and her neck or the pungent smell of alcohol.
She heard her mother's sobs and a man's voice a moment later. She could barely focus on the light being shone in her eyes before everything faded to black.
She woke again, she didn't know what time it was but it was dark through the blinds. She realized she had been moved to a private room and the tube had been removed from her throat. She was grateful for that. Though her throat was itchy and scratchy it wasn't nearly as uncomfortable as the tube. She needed her mother. She needed answers. She squeezed on the clip that was attached to her fingers and prayed to God someone could hear the buzzing.
A nurse entered her room a moment later followed by a group of people she didn't recognize.
She wasn't sharp enough yet to take in all the faces but she didn't see her mom.
"Riley, it's Matty, your mom is getting a couple of hours rest, one or some of us will stay with you until she gets back," the dark haired woman said. Were they some kind of support group?
"What happened?" she managed to get out.
"You fell, but the awning broke your fall. You still suffered severe head injuries." she said.
Fell from where? What were these people talking about. She lubricated her throat before she was able to speak and said, "who are you people?"