Hurt Locker

Chapter Thirteen- Life & Death

The team debriefed Matty on a call the next morning while they scarfed down the sandwiches Desi had bought. Their back up was in route but they were still outnumbered in a hotel full of criminals.

Riley's had finally settled, with Mac safe and sound to her left eating a turkey sandwich, she didn't have anything to fear. All that was left was excitement. She liked her job and being sidelined for so long had her itching to get back into the field.

Matty agreed that the priority was diffusing the bomb, ahead of catching Mason and they all agreed. They decided that creating a distraction was the best bet to evacuate guests. Riley and Bozer would be tasked with the evacuation and Desi would be on standby in case Mason had the bomb guarded which they expected. And Mac would do his thing.

Before she got off the phone Matty said, "It's good to have you back Riley."

Mac nudged her side and winked at her. He'd obviously been the blabber mouth who told Matty the majority of her memory had returned.

"It's good to be back," Riley said.

When they got off the phone with Matty they finished up eating. Riley had to keep her emotions at bay, being back with the team and feeling like herself again felt better than she thought it would.

She looked over at Mac, Bozer was bandaging his ribs before they left. They had not gotten a chance to talk yet but this time she didn't mind. He'd pretty much told her everything she wanted to hear the last time they were together. Once Mason was caught…it would finally be the right time for them.

Mac was nowhere near fighting shape and Riley was still sleep deprived but they were ready because they had to be. Lives depended on it. Riley didn't take that lightly.

"Let's go," Bozer said.

They got up to leave. Mac pulled Riley back and said, "You guys go ahead, we'll catch up."

Riley was impatient, "We don't have time for this Mac."

"This won't take long," he said. He placed his small red swiss army knife in her hands, "Think of it as good luck. Please be careful." he said. "We both need to live so we can finish that conversation," A smile broke out on his handsome face and she fell in love all over again.

She gripped the knife in her hand and nodded as he left ahead of her.

"I would also appreciate it if you didn't get yourself blown up," she called after him.

They arrived at the hotel after a brief stop at department store for a change of clothes. Riley and Bozer were dressed as tourist while Mac and Desi were dressed as cat burglars in dark clothing with hoods.

Riley and Bozer were to enter first and wreak havoc so Mac and Desi could slip in during the chaos.

Before she left the van Riley said, "Keep your coms on this time," Riley said She wore a small smirk. Mac and Desi laughed along with her. He knew it was her way of absolving them of any guilt. And it worked. He exchanged a knowing look with Desi. Left in the van with his ex wasn't as awkward as he thought it would be. Desi was in work mode and he didn't want to jeopardize that but he didn't want to go into a hotel with a giant bomb with things left unsaid between them.

"I feel like we should clear the air," Mac said.

"I wasn't aware the air needed clearing."

"So we're good?" Mac said.

Desi laughed, "We're fine. I get it now," Desi said. Though Mac wasn't sure what exactly she got.

"You guys are a better fit." she said with a small smile. Her words cleared up any more ambiguity and he smiled in response.

"How did you know?" he said.

"Hmm," Desi said, pretending to be deep in thought. "You getting panic attacks after she was hurt was a big hint. Not to mention Riley jabbing nails into her fingers just to get rescue you…that was a pretty big clue…"

Mac blushed, had Desi always been that observant.

"Let's just never have this conversation again…" she said.

"I think that's best too." Mac said.

They waited, staying ready and checking their watches. Right on time, the fire alarm went off and swarms of people began rushing out of the hotel, some holding their shirts up to their noses to cover from the smoke. Mac and Desi slipped into the hotel disguised by the swarms of people, they headed for the security booth. They found the security guards shot in the head.

"Shit, Mason's guys have been here already." Desi said. The security monitors had been disabled. Mac got to work repairing the frayed wires. The cameras came on moments later though much grainier, but it was better than nothing. Mac's eyes quickly scanned the monitors, masses of people were still fleeing from Riley and Bozer's smoke bomb. By now they were probably secretly talking to the hotel manager, making sure the evacuation stuck. Criminal and civilian blended together as the hotel emptied. Mac's eyes finally found the crates in the kitchen. They had probably passed them off as produce.

"Let's go," he told Desi. He updated Bozer and Riley over coms as he and Desi ran down to the kitchen. The kitchen staff had evacuated, leaving half cooked meals and half chopped vegetables lying around. But as expected there were three 'kitchen aids' hanging around the pantry. Mac ducked as Desi began launching chef's knives at them.

"A little warning next time," Mac said.

"Opportunity struck," Desi said as the men stormed their way.

"Go do your thing," Desi said, "leave them to me."

Mac slipped under the stainless steel tables and Desi engaged them in hand to hand combat. He took up one of the knives she had launched at the men and pried the crate open to reveal the bomb. Sweat rolled down his back as it always did because more than a hundred bombs later it never got easier or less unnerving.

Concentrating and using a small paring knife, Mac worked as quickly as his fingers would allow. He vaguely heard Desi saying she was going to look for Mason. The last wire was snipped and Mac felt his fingers unclenched. He began dissembling the components though he believed they were out of the woods.

"Bomb's disarmed." Mac said over coms.

"Good job guys, can we please get the hell out of here," Bozer said.

Mac finished dismantling the rest of the components and stretched his sore arms. When he closed the door to pantry, he heard the familiar click of a gun's safety being turned off. Mason stood behind him with a cocked gun pointed at his head. Mac placed his hands up, careful not to make any sudden moves.

"You're like tic I can get rid of." Mason said. "I made the mistake of sparing your life twice before. I won't make that mistake again."

Mac closed his eyes as the shot rang out, but the impact never came. When he opened his eyes, Mason was slowly collapsing, and Riley stood behind him. The pistol was still in her shaking hands. She looked like she had just sold her soul.

"Riley," he said her name but he didn't think she could hear him. She dropped the gun then looked down at her hands like they were stained with blood.