AN:
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Chapter 4
„S'ry." It was such an effort to get his mouth working. His thoughts were slow, as if they were fighting their way through molasses. A pounding headache made it even harder to concentrate on anything. What had happened? He was down and had obviously been out for a while, if Jacks concerned expression was any indication. A head injury? No, he decided. His body ached all over and he felt sweaty and was shivering. Fever. Did he catch a cold? But why wasn't he at home or at Jacks place then? While Mac tried to remember, he registered that his partner was talking to him.
„Hey buddy, about time you surfaced. How ya feelin' hoss?" The strain of the last hours brought out Jacks Texan drawl even more.
„Thirsty, ever'thing hurts, tired." Macs honesty gave the Delta another hint how bad off his partner was. Normally the blond would insist on „fine", even if a bone was sticking out of his body.
Jack stroked the sweat soaked bangs out of Macs face and helped him drink. „There ya go. You remember where we at?"
Mac frowned, he looked around and some pieces came back. „We were in Siberia. We … still are?" He asked with a confused expression, as he didn't remember how he ended up in this room.
„Yeah, Riley led us to this cabin." Jack reached out and pulled the blanket up a bit more. „Exfil's delayed. They had to send another chopper and to make things more complicated a snow storm trapped us here. I'm just glad this place is in such good condition. It's really bad out there."
Mac nodded. „How long until they get us?" His eyelids grew heavy and it was so hard to stay awake.
Jack glanced at his watch. „Only two more hours hoss. It's ok, go to sleep buddy."
The blond didn't have to be told twice, as his eyes were closed already.
The Delta decided to give Phoenix an update. „Hey guys, you copy?"
„Yes, we hear you Jack" came the immediate reply from his boss. „What's your status?"
„I've got the fever down a bit." The Delta reported.
Doc Ward asked. „That's good, is he alert?"
Jack glanced at his partner, how seemed to sleep peacefully now. „He woke up briefly. He remembered where we are." The huge relief this simple sentence was carrying, could easily be heard by everybody who knew Jack well.
„That's a good sign Jack." The physician said.
„So, when can we get out of here? I don't want to complain, it's cozy and all, but I'd really want to get Mac some decent help." The unspoken before his fever rises again hung in the air, but they all knew that the blond would deteriorate soon, if he didn't get meds. „I think he's getting dehydrated. I'm not able to get much water in him and with all the sweating …" He trailed off.
Riley chimed in. „The chopper's just started. ETA about 100 minutes Jack. Hang in there big guy, you did great so far." She encouraged her surrogate dad and she meant it. If she had to be stuck sick in the middle of nowhere it would be Jack she'd want to have with her.
A warm feeling spread through Jack. Count on Riley to make him feel better in a situation like this. „Thanks baby."
„I'll contact you 10 minutes prior to their arrival, so you can get ready." The hacker promised.
„Better make that 15 Ri. With all that gear to put on, it'll take a while." Jack remarked.
„15 understood. See you soon Jack." Riley ended.
„So, it's just the two of us hoss. I knew, I've done some nasty stuff in my life and probably deserve it no better. But I don't get it why the universe keeps loading shit on you. I mean, getting deadly sick in the middle of Siberia while a fucking snow storm is trapping us? That's a lot, even for you. Though I shouldn't be surprised, cause ya never do anything by halves, don't you? God about time, we get out of here, I'm rambling and it's not much fun, when I don't get called out on it by you." Jack kept wiping down Macs face and upper body with cold water while he had his monolog.
The blond started mumbling again, but Jack couldn't make out what he was saying. „Shit, your fever's rising again. Come on Mac. Don't do that to me again. When we get out of here, I need to have a talk with Jacob. I think there should be a mandatory check up for you after every mission. I mean, I'm always looking you over, but they have all these shiny toys in Medical, MRT, CT and all that stuff. They should really use it to make sure something like that doesn't happen again."
Jack glanced at his watch. Only five minutes had gone by. Why did time slow down so much when you were desperate? An hour with his friends at Macs firepit was gone in a blink, while the one and a half hours he had still ahead of him seemed like an eternity. Jack thought of all the times he had waited for Mac to come out of surgery and felt his breathing sped up. This wasn't something that could be fixed by a scalpell or a stitching job. His brother had a serious infection and time was of essence. He couldn't lose Mac. They both had always joked they would go out with a bang. But this? An enemy so small you couldn't even see him with your eyes. Jack was drifting, his hands started shaking and it was too hot in the cabin. How do you fight bacteria? You can't shoot them or beat them to a bloody pulp. Jack was drowning in his helplessness. A whimper made it through the mess his head had become. Mac needed him. Jack pressed his fists into the bruise on his forehead and the pain helped him again to get his feet on the ground of reason.
The Delta took a few deep breaths and wiped his own head and neck, sighing when the coldness helped to clear his head further. „Hang in there hoss. We're hitting the home stretch, so don't you give up on me now. Just a little longer." His movements were efficient and precise, not leaving out an inch of heated skin. Jack had done this so often, it was second nature to him. Soaking, wringing out, wiping down. At least it gave him something to do.
Finally there was a crackle in his ear. „Jack? It's me Riley. The helicopter is 15 minutes out so you better get ready. How is Mac?" Rileys voice was tense.
„About time. His fever is rising again. I try to cool him down, but he's still getting hotter." Jack tried to sound calm, but deep down he knew he couldn't fool his girl.
„I've already briefed the medic on the chopper Jack. As soon as you're in, Mac's getting antibiotics." Doc Ward reassured him and Jack sighed relieved.
„Thanks Jacob, I needed to hear that. We'll get ready now."
Jack quickly packed their stuff in the backpack and slipped into his gear. He tried to rouse his partner. It was no surprise, when Mac didn't wake up. Maybe it was a blessing to spare the blond the pain of being moved. Efficiently he clothed Mac and after shouldering his pack, he waited until he could hear the thump of the helicopter blades. Gently he picked up his friend and left the cabin. Matty had kept her promise and the chopper touched down just a few yards away.
Jack was glad, because the snow was almost reaching his hip and he wouldn't be able to carry Mac a long distance in these conditions. The door slid open and strong arms reached for Mac. Hesitantly Jack let go of his partner and climbed in after him. He closed the door and gave the pilot a thumbs up to take off.
„I knew it was you two, when Matty contacted me and said that two of our guys are in deep shit in the middle of Siberia." Gabe, one of the Phoenix medics and long time friend of Jack, grinned.
Relief flooded through Jack, when he recognized his buddy. „Gabe! You're a sight for sore eyes. How did you get here?"
Together they had started to remove Macs jacket. „I just wrapped up a mission in Vienna with my team, when the boss called me. Doc Ward filled me in. Anything else I need to know?" Gabe asked and started attaching heart monitor leads on Macs chest.
„After he seized I packed him in snow. The fever went down a bit and he came to for a few minutes. Over the last hour his fever has risen again. I didn't manage to get much water in him." Jack relayed the newest development.
Gabe nodded grimly. „103.9 that's pretty high. Let's get some fluids and meds into him."
With a few efficient movements the medic started an IV line and injected something into the bag. „We go with broad-spectrum antibiotics for now until we know, what kind of shit is making him sick."
There was nothing to do for Jack now and he sat back with a sigh. „Finally. God I hate it when he's sick and I can't help him much." The Delta admitted tiredly.
Gabe snorted. „You also hate it when he's injured. I remember last year the mission in Belgrad, where he broke his arm. I thought you were going nuts."
Jack went into defense mode. „Hey, a broken arm is serious. You as a medic should know that."
„You're right, but you didn't have to carry him to the jet. I was afraid the poor guy would faint from embarrassment." Gabe chuckled.
That elicited a small grin from Jack. „I just wanted to prevent him from falling down. But I admit I went a little overboard with it. Man, did he get back at me. Every time I opened my fridge the firealarm in my apartment went off for the next week."
The medic laughed. „Sounds like Mac. All jokes aside, he appreciates you looking out for him." Gabe checked Mac over again and turned to Jack. „So let's have a look at your head Jack. What were you hit with, a sledgehammer?" The medic turned on a small flashlight and pointed it to the Deltas eyes.
Jack slapped his hands away and tried to get away from the medic, but in the small chopper that was simply not possible. „I'm fine, just a little bump."
Gabes expression went stern. „Don't fight me buddy. I've seen you with some really bad concussions, so many your head scan looks probably like one of a football pro. So, what happened?" He probed with a gentler tone.
Jack avoided Gabes searching glance and absentmindedly fiddled with the latch on his holster.
„Hey, you don't plan on shooting me, do you?" The medic joked, but Jack seemed to be miles away. His eyes now fixed on Macs unmoving form. „Jack? You with me?" Gabe prodded, concern in his voice.
„It's my fault you know. I didn't tend to his knee thoroughly enough. He was so hot and miserable, whimpering and crying out and I couldn't do anything … apart from being angry at myself … and I was so afraid he would die … I almost lost my shit there … panic attack sneeked up on me … had to do something … hit my head on the table hard … it worked …" Jack whispered.
Gabe reached out his hand and squeezed his friends shoulder. „Oh Jack. Please let me take a look at you to make sure you're ok. And forget that bullshit about it being your fault, that's simply not true. Come on, let's get it over with. Mac needs you, when he wakes up."
Jack frowned. „You know that's low, pulling the Mac-card." But he didn't push the medic away, when he started his examination anew.
Gabe grinned. „Works like a charm though."
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