Okidoki y'all! Yes, I know, it has been a ridiculous amount of tie since I last updated, of which you have no idea how sorry I am. Life got insanely busy. I had choir, church, and a project and essay due almost every week and so it was kind of hard to even find time to even sleep! Anyways, I had a spare minute.. at 11:00 at night... so I figured I should probably whip this chapter out really fast and update for you incredibly, amazingly patient readers! Okay y'all, I'll quit babbling so y'all can read. Enjoy!
James Macgyver crept silently up behind the tac-team leader, his knife hidden in the folds of his sleeve to keep it from glinting in the moonlight. He reached up and grabbed the man around the throat, holding the knife tightly against the man's throat until the struggling stopped. He grinned maniacally as he felt adrenaline rush through his system. This was going to be fun.
***Line Break***
Mac and Jack slid inside the compound, disabling the alarm easily and Mac typed in a couple of combinations that sent the entire base into shut down. The small team of four blended in with the crowd easily and breezed down the hallway. In the pandemonium, Jack found himself on the opposite side of the hallway from Mac. The blond was closer to both his father and Levi. Jack struggled to get through the mass of people to his partner, but to no avail. he watched as James and Levi exchanged glances and split up, each headed for one of the other members. Jack saw the glint in James' eyes and knew. Their cover was blown. So completely and utterly blown. He scanned the hall desperately for Mac but could find no signs of that tell-tale blond head. He decided that Mac would have most likely headed to the rendezvous point and so turned away from James and pushed towards the War Room. They were so screwed.
***Line Break***
As soon as they were separated, Mac's anxiety spiked and magnified ten-fold. Whatever he'd forgotten was now on the tip of his tongue and he had a horrible feeling about it. He knew he needed to remember it, but he couldn't bring his mind into focus. He flowed along the sea of people, trying to get to the rendezvous point. He was shoved into a hallway and blocked by a crowd of terrified lab technicians. They flooded him with questions, obviously assuming he worked there. Mac shoved through them, remembering from the blueprint that there was a shortcut to the War Room from that hallway.
Suddenly, a memory hit him like a ton of bricks. Causing him to physically stumble against the wall. Horror filled his mind as his father's voice bounced through his head.
"Our plans for Dalton will go forward as expected. Phoenix will lose their top agent on our next mission, and we'll be rid of them forever."
Heart in his mouth, Mac set off at a run for the War Room. He had to warn Jack. He had to get to his partner before James did. The world blurred around Mac as his thoughts tunneled, focused solely on Jack's safety. He dashed through hallway after hallway, dodging around tac teams, analysts, and scientists. He ran full out as he turned a sharp corner- only to be stopped dead as a solid object slammed full on into his face.
He crashed to the floor, groaning and grabbing his throbbing head. Mac's heart dropped as he looked up and saw Levi standing over him, a triumphant, manic look in his eyes. In an instant Mac knew. Levi wasn't there to help him. He was there for him. A flash of panic brought Mac up to his feet and sent him launching himself at his attacker, his fight or flight mode on full throttle. He barreled over his father's partner and both of them tumbled to the floor. Mac grappled for control over the other man but, being significantly smaller than his father's partner, was quickly overpowered by the vile man. He squirmed, trying to pull away from the death grip that Levi had on his throat.
"Thought you could pull one over on your old man and me, didn't you," Levi spat the words in Mac's face, squeezing his throat tight, "you forgot that we're both smarter than you."
Mac looked around, desperately trying to find something that would help him out of his current situation, but there was nothing within reach. Grunting, he tried to shove Levi off but the older man had the weight and high ground advantage on his side.
The manic look in Levi's cold ice-blue eyes sent chills down Mac's spine and he struggled all the more fiercely. He knew that, should they need to, James and Levi could use him against Jack as a ticket out. He could never allow that to happen.
"You know what," Levi growled, wrapping his hands securely around the rest of Mac's neck and lifting him enough so that their faces were inches apart, "I'm sick of you fighting me," he spat, the with all his might, he slammed mac's head into the concrete floor. He grinned in satisfaction as Mac screamed in pain and his bright blue eyes, full of tears, rolled up into his head.
Levi stood up off the unconscious young man, wiping his hands on his pants he smiled sadistically, "I forgot how pretty that boy is," he said, to no one in particular, then shrugged, lifting the blond and hefting the thin man over his shoulder, he spoke into the comm-link that connected to James, "I've got the kid, boss. Let's go."
***Line Break***
Matty often wondered how she found herself in these situations. Bartering for the lives of her employees while a civilian/witness was at risk of losing his life. Growing up she had never planned to go into this line of work and yet, twenty-some-odd years later here she was, negotiating with a terrorist for the life of her top agent and an EOD army tech.
James Macgyver held the gun at Jack's head, watching the quivering Delta carefully. No, Matty knew that Jack wasn't quivering from fear, but rather his entire body was vibrating with the energy of a barely restrained anger that radiated off him in waves. The only thing that was stopping him was the gun at Mac's temple. The dazed younger Macgyver was being held up on his feet only by the physical power of James Macgyver's partner, Levi something. He had a small amount of dried blood matting the hair on the back of his head together, and Matty had to quell the automatic flutter of fear she felt for the younger man. She covered her anxiety well, though, and kept her gaze fixed on the man of the hour. James Macgyver.
The terrorist was standing in front of her, holding a gun to the head of her best operative and closest friend. He had forced himself into her company and caused chaos, injuries, panic, and all kinds of trouble, and now he had the balls to stand in front of her and demand the list of CIA operatives working in DC. Matty was beyond angry. She was furious.
"So, James," she spoke in a deadly calm, yet slightly conversational and partly condescending tone, one she had perfected over years of interrogations and fighting criminals, "you've clearly planned this very thoroughly," she smirked, "you got in simply enough, but how exactly did you plan on getting out? I sincerely hope you don't plan to just walk out of here after the mess you've made of this job."
"Oh, Matilda," James smirked, matching her tone exactly, "but that is exactly what I plan to do," he stepped forward, a glint in his eyes that sent shivers down Matty's spine, "you see, I know your policies," he gestured at Mac, "you cannot take me down if it endangers the life of the witness," he stepped closer to Mac, switching spots with his partner almost quicker than one could blink, "especially one as key as my own son," he sighed, gently stroking Mac's cheek, ignoring the boys flinch and Jack's protective growl, "I am curious, Matilda, how did you manage to turn my own son against me?" he sighed again, gripping Mac's arm tightly, allowing Levi to step away and taking the full weight of his son, ignoring the boy's fearful whimpers that tore at Matty's heart, "and after i gave him such a..." he paused, smirking, "trained childhood."
Matty felt that oddly protective feeling surge up in her chest as James held onto Mac, "listen, James, you and i both know that as valuable as your son's information is, we still have plenty on you to put you away for life, witness or no, you will be put in jail for your crimes," she took a breath, "but know this," she promised, "if you hurt even a hair on that witnesses head," she put stress on the word that James seemed so fond of, "I will put you in the ground myself."
"So touchy," James gently ran a hand down Mac's cheek, disregarding his son's shudder, "it's almost as if you care for the boy."
"You go to trial, or you go to the ground," Matty snapped, through with his games, "your choice."
James made a show of thinking it over, gently pressing his gun against the tender spot on Mac's head, "fine," he smirked, "I won't hurt the witness," he cocked his gun, not noticing the movements from his son, "but you never said anything about your agent!"
Before Matty could say anything, James pulled the trigger and the bullet flew straight at Jack's head.
***Line Break***
Mac shuddered at his father's touch, he hated physical contact from anyone but Jack. And especially from his father. He hated this. He couldn't understand what was going on through the ringing in his ears and the clouds in his mind. Nothing made since except that his father was touching his face and he did NOT like it. He squirmed uncomfortable, trying to tell him to stop but only succeeding in whimpering.
"...to the ground..." the words vaguely reached his ears through the haze.
He frowned in concentration. Who was going to the ground? Was someone hurt? What was happening? His mind suddenly recalled what had happened before the haze, Jack. His mind spun. Jack was in danger. Was Jack going to the ground? What the heck did that even mean? Mac's blood ran cold as he heard the sharp click of a gun cocking. All his thoughts converged onto one single name. Jack.
Using all the strength he had in his body, Mac managed to push himself up and throw himself at Jack. Everything happened at once as he heard the loud report of three gunshots and felt a burning sensation in his chest just as his body collided with Jack's. He fell to the ground unable to stop the cry of pain that was torn from his lips. His mind clouded up again, unable to think about anything. He was vaguely aware that someone was touching him again. but these hands were lovingly familiar. They were Jack's. Mac sank into the touch, keeping one arm wrapped securely around his waist. He didn't know what was going on. He couldn't make sense of anything. His mind was spiraling into confusion. He couldn't form a cohesive thought...
***Line Break***
The sniper on the roof took care of Levi at the exact moment that Mac collapsed into Jack's arms, his father's bullet tearing through his side. Panic threatened to overwhelm Jack as he gently lowered mac to the floor, ignoring the entire rest of the people in the room. There was so much blood. He felt tears pour from his own eyes, but did nothing to stop them.
"Ja.." Mac gasped, his blue eyes clouded with confusion and pain, "wha..?"
"You're okay, buddy," Jack reassured his best friend, "I've got you. They won't hurt you anymore. I promise, I've got you."
Mac whimpered and sank into Jack's lap, curling around himself and gripping Jack's shirt like a lifeline. Jack carefully held Mac to him, using Mac's position against his chest to apply the needed amount of pressure to his friend's gunshot wound. Mac's blood welled up through his fingers and spurted out between them. An arterial bleed. Jack was vaguely aware of James on the ground nearby, moaning in pain, but he didn't care why the other man was hurting. In fact, he felt that the man deserved it. He spoke softly to Mac, trying to keep the sobbing younger man calm. Mac was hyperventilating and panicking. Jack felt a hand on his shoulder and look over at Matty. She was talking but he couldn't make out her words.
"...Jack," Matty's tone made it seem like she'd said his name several times, "medical is on it's way, they will be here in ten."
"Matty he doesn't have ten minutes," Jack snapped, acutely aware of Mac's blood draining through his fingers, "he's dying."
"The quickest they'll be here is six minutes," Matty told him, realizing she'd purposely given him the longest time so that he would feel relieved if they got there before that, "they'll get here. He'll be fine."
Jack shook his head, turning all his attention back to his kid, "c'mon Mac," he said, burying his face in Mac's thick, blond hair, "you'll be okay, kid, just breathe. Please just breathe."
Mac's breathing slowed, but Jack wasn't reassured. As the kid's breathing slowed, his grip began loosening. Jack watched in horror as Mac's baby blues rolled up in his head and he went limp in his arms.
"No," Jack yelled, "no, Mac, come on, buddy, stay with me. Stay with me, please!" Jack yelled and pleaded with his kid even as medical began taking him down on a stretcher. Jack didn't stop begging until the doctor forced him from the hospital room so that they could prep his baby boy for surgery.
The second Mac was out of sight, all of Jack's energy left him. He stumbled backwards and slumped into a waiting room chair. He sat there numbly, staring at the door and waiting for a doctor to come out and tell him that everything was okay. That Mac would be fine, he would be okay. Jack looked down at his hands. They were covered in blood. Mac's blood.
The former delta barely made it to the nearest trashcan before his stomach expelled all of his lunch. Jack sat hunched over the trashcan for a solid five minutes, aware of the medical staff hovering around him worriedly. He finally sat back, leaning up against the wall. It was then, in the middle of the waiting room, with throw-up all over his shirt, tears on his face and blood on his hands, that Jack Dalton bowed his head and, between sobs, prayed desperately for the survival of his kid.
Whew! Okay, so yes that is that! I really hope y'all enjoyed that chapter! Drop a review telling me what you think! Again, super sorry about the delay in updates, but I really hope y'all liked this! The next chapter will be the last one, so feel free to leave a review giving suggestions on what I should write next! I am open to most things so leave your suggestions 'cause I would loooooove to hear them! Can't wait to update again! Love y'all!
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