AN:

Sorry for the late update. As a treat I posted the last two chapters in one. Enjoy!

Chapter 5

After asking some questions and prodding the bruise a bit, Gabe nodded satisfied. „Seems your thick head is alright, but I want Doc Ward to have a look at it when we get back."

„Old mother hen," Jack grumbled. That elicited a laugh from the medic. „You know that's the pot calling the kettle black, don't you?"

The Delta knew his friend was right, but he wasn't ashamed to admit it. „Being a mother hen is practically my job description. Mac has no sense of self-preservation at all." He reached out and stroked Macs sweaty bangs out of his face. „I mean, look at him. He still looks like a kid, even if he's pushing thirty now. I can't help, but feel protective about him."

Gabe adjusted the drip on Macs IV and agreed. „He really needs someone looking after him. Doing the job his own father failed at."

The pilot announced that they were reaching their destination in five minutes.

„Where are we going?" Jack wanted to know. Wow, his head must really be messed up, when he thought about asking it just now.

„It's a small airstrip, where the Phoenix jet is waiting for us. We'll see how he's doing over the next two hours. If he's stable and I can manage his fever, then we're pushing for home. If not, we're stopping at Rammstein in Germany. Doc Ward thought, that would be the best solution." Gabe explained.

There was an Air Force base in Rammstein with a good military hospital. Jack knew that, because he had been a guest there himself. The Delta wanted to go home, but he didn't want to be in the air in the middle of an ocean with a blond genius in a critical condition.

The transfer to the Phoenix jet went smoothly and Jack let out a relieved sigh, when they took off. They made Mac comfortable on the couch and Gabe checked his temperature again.

„How bad?" Jack queried.

The medic smiled. „103.5 still high, but at least he's heading in the right direction."

Gabe was periodically checking Macs vitals and temperature over the next hours, while Jack kept hovering over his partner. The Delta whispered words of encouragement and wiped down Macs fevered body. He didn't register the concerned look the medic shot him.

Gabe had just ended a call with Phoenix, where he had discussed Macs condition and together it was decided to push for LA as the blonds fever was between 102 and 103. The medic stepped beside Jack and laid a hand on his shoulder. „We're going home buddy. Why don't you sit down and get some rest yourself Jack? You've been awake for over a day now and we'll be in the air for another fourteen hours at least."

Jack was exhausted, but he couldn't lay down and sleep when his best friend was so sick. „I can't Gabe."

The medic sighed. „Jack you won't be any good to Mac, when you run yourself into the ground. I promise I'll wake you if anything changes. You can trust me."

The Delta shook his head. „I know that. It's just … when he's this bad … when I go to sleep with all that worry about him … my head's messed up and the nightmares get really bad then …" He trailed off, his cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

Gabe laid his arm around his friends shoulder and gave him a quick squeeze. „Ok, I get where you come from. Don't be ashamed about worrying about him. Just promise me to tell me, once you're feeling off. I mean it Jack, I don't want to have to tend to two patients." He thrust a Gatorade in the Deltas hands.

„Don't worry Gabe. This isn't my first rodeo with a sick Mac." When the medic rolled his eyes Jack added with a grin. „And yeah, I promise to tell you, if I'm about to clock out."

They fell into a routine over the next 14 hours. Checking vitals and fever, wiping down a sweaty body and updating Doc Ward, who was still holding the fort at Phoenix. The physician could have gone home to rest and let one of the other doctors take over, but that was simply not an option for the kind man. Doc Ward was loyal to a fault. He didn't give a shit about quitting time, when one of his long time patients turned friends was in critical condition. Jacob along with nurse Angela had become a part of the Phoenix family. It wasn't an impersonal doctor-patient-relationship, no it was taking care of a loved one. That included worrying and at times clinging to a thin thread of hope, when an ordinary doctor would have given up on his patient. It was an unusual situation, but they were unusual patients and had more than once beaten the odds.

At his last call-in Gabe had informed Doc Ward about Jacks visible exhaustion and that he was getting concerned about him. They had already talked about the bruise on the Deltas forehead, which was now almost black, and Jacob had promised to check Jack over.

The Delta obviously had pushed his own needs aside for the moment. His sole focus was on his partner. But Gabe was a great medic and so he registered Jacks pale face and his shaking hands. He couldn't get the Delta to rest, so he made at least sure his friend ate and drank regularly.

Mac hadn't woken up the whole time. The blond whimpered occasionally, crying out for Jack who had gone hoarse long ago with all the reassuring words he kept mumbling on a loop. Macs fever had spiked a few times and Jack and Gabe had used all the cooling packs they had on board. When the pilot announced, that they were landing in LA Jacks shoulders sagged with relief and he uttered. „God, this took forever." He ran a shaking hand over his face, wincing when he touched the bruise, he had forgotten about long ago.

„About time we got home. Now you both can get some treatment and rest." Gabe stood up and stretched. When Jack opened his mouth to object, the medic held up a warning finger.

„Don't you dare and say you're fine. I don't want to hear any of that crap. You're running on fumes,"

Jack didn't have a witty response to those harsh words so he only shrugged and turned his attention back to Mac.

As soon as they reached Phoenix Mac was whisked away by Doc Ward and his team. Jack had an ugly Deja-vu. Too often had he looked at that doors swinging slowly shut, after Mac had been taken from him. It was always a moment Jack struggled with, when he had to let go of his partner. In his mind he knew it was neccessary and good, that Mac got the care he needed, but his heart had other ideas. Not being able to simply stay by Macs side felt like letting him down. Jack would have marched into an OR, if the staff had let him. It would have been hell for the Delta to witness the surgeon cut into the blonds inert body, but Jack would have endured it, only to be able to watch over his kid. Luckily this time Mac wouldn't need surgery, he tried to console himself. But, could he be sure about that? No, he still didn't know if that scraped knee caused all this worry. Jack imagined, that there must be at least a dozen other things, that could have caused Macs symptoms. What if the antibiotics didn't work? They had barely been able to keep the fever under control on the flight back to LA. That was a bad sign. What if Mac had another seizure? What if it caused brain damage? Jack was so absorbed in his concern about his partner, he didn't register someone calling out to him. He was still facing the double doors, that had stopped moving some time ago. Only when he felt a tug on his sleeve, Jack snapped back to the present. He turned around and there was Riley.

The hacker clapped her hand over her mouth. „Christ Jack! What happened to your head?" She carefully pulled him into a hug, the whole time searching his face for a reaction. „Jack? Talk to me. You're scaring me. Are you alright?"

The Delta held his girl tightly, seeking all the comfort he could get, after giving so much of his own over the last two days. Had it only been two days since they left? It felt like a decade to Jack. Well at least he felt ten years older after his ordeal. Riley. Right, she was waiting for him to say something.

„M good baby. Missed you." That was all he managed. His head was weird. Thousand thoughts, but his mouth wasn't able to turn them into coherent words. He enjoyed not being alone, he drifted.

Something had changed. Riley was shouting for help. What was wrong with her? Was she sick too? Jack tried to focus on his girl, but something was wrong. She looked down on him. Only then Jack became aware that he was lying on the floor.

„What the hell?" He tried to sit up, but was immediately pushed back down by Riley. When had the girl become so strong? Matty was there too and Bozer running away to get some help.

„Stay down, big guy. Try to relax, ok?" Rileys eyes were wide with fear, so Jack nodded and sagged back. The hacker didn't know what scared her more, Jack collapsing in her arms or him not putting up a fight about staying down.

A moment later Jack was surrounded by medical personal. They tried to put him on a stretcher, but the Delta was having none of that. He insisted on getting up on his own. „Spare this for the people who need it, I'm fine." Although his wobbling belied his words, nobody called him out on that. Nurse Angela was there and guided him into an exam room, with Riley holding his other arm and Bozer trailing behind, just in case. Riley and Bozer were ushered out of the room and Angela turned to her patient.

„I don't think I need to start a line, as Gabe told me he got you to eat and drink on the flight." Jack nodded although he could only vaguely remember Gabe thrusting a Gatorade in his hands.

„Gabe's an old mother hen," he grumbled while Angela took his blood pressure.

She agreed with a smile. „A good one. I'm glad he's on our side. Without him we would have even more trouble with the both of you. So tell me about that bruise."

Jack knew he could not lie to her, she was too smart so he went for a distraction. „Shouldn't you be taking care of Mac?"

„I was, but once we got word you were down Doc Ward sent me back to deal with you." Angela admitted and added, when she saw the look of guilt on the Deltas face. „No, stop this at once Jack. Mac is in the best of hands. Jacob is taking care of him and you know all the nurses here at Phoenix are great at their jobs."

„I know that, it's just …" Jack trailed off, not able to admit, that both of them always felt more comfortable with Angela around.

The kind nurse smiled. „I take that as a compliment, but you should work on that charming thing a bit."

That elicited a grin from Jack. „Why should I? There's no hope for me since the only angel I've ever met is happily married." He covered his heart with his hands in a dramatic gesture.

That caused Angela to laugh and even blush a little. „Much better Jack. But you still have to tell me what happened to your head."

Normally Jack would come up with a story about bad guys, but he trusted Angela and she deserved the truth. „I was so worried about Mac and got caught in the beginings of a panic attack. I was sitting at a table and …"

„You hit your head to snap out of it? Damn Jack, you need to work on that. You get hits to your head often enough without inflicting them on yourself." Angela sighed. „But I understand it. Just go pinching your leg the next time, will you? I need to get one of the docs look at that and you've probably earned yourself a head scan, because you fainted. And then you need to rest. Your blood sugar is ok, as are your vitals. So probably just exhaustion."

Jack looked down at his finger surprised to see a droplet of blood, where Angela was putting a piece of gauze on. He must really be tired to miss her stabbing his finger. But that didn't stop him from being stubborn. „I need to know that Mac will be ok. Then I'll take a nap."

Angela responded with a vague „We'll see" and left the room.

Twenty minutes later Jack was cleared from having a head injury. He grinned. „Told you so. I've got a thick head."

The young doctor assigned to him and not quite used to the Deltas sassy attitude answered. „Your head is fine, but you're still extremely exhausted. You're going to lay down and sleep or I have to sedate you. I won't risk you passing out and injuring your head for real." The physician held up a syringe threateningly. Jack laughed and drank the orange juice Angela brought him. „You're bluffing. I can see that the syringe is empty. You have to do better than that."

Now it was time for the doctor to grin. „Angela was right. It was her idea to put the sedative in the juice. Much easier that way. Sweet dreams Jack."

Anger surged through the Delta, but it was quickly replaced with drowsiness. „I'll get you for tha …little shit of a doc … have guns …" the rest of his threats drowned in a snore. Angela covered her patient and said to the doctor. „I hate to do that, but he won't rest otherwise."

The young doctor shuddered. „Do you really think he'll harm me?"

„Maybe not, but he will get back at you for it." Angela answered.

Mac only felt scorching heat. Nothing made sense. He must be back in the sandbox, only there had he experienced a heat so bad it hurt to breathe. But there was snow. Why was there snow? That wasn't possible. And hands, so many hands. Grabbing and pulling at him, stabbing him with needles, strapping him down. He must have been captured. But why was everything so bright and so much white around him? In Afghanistan everything was beige, dirty and dusty. The sharp smell of disinfectants contradicted the usual scent of gun powder that surrounded him normally. Jack. He needed Jack. Mac called out to him, but the sound he was able to produce was only a hoarse whisper. All the figures around him melted into one huge snowball and disappeared into darkness.

There was humming. Oh what a beautiful voice. The humming turned into words and Jack could make out it was one of his favourite Metallica songs. He forced his heavy eyelids open and there was his girl. Riley smiled warmly at him and squeezed his hand. „Hey sleepy head. How are you feeling?"

Jack had the ugly taste a sedative usually left behind on his tongue. He reached for the water on the table beside his bed. After he had gulped it down, he asked. „How long was I out?"

The hacker glanced at her watch. „About six hours. The only gave you a slight dose, but everybody expected you to sleep much longer, because of your exhaustion. How do you feel Jack? And this time I want an answer."

„I'm fine. They shouldn't have sedated me at all." He snapped at Riley and felt bad about it immediately. „I'm sorry sweetheart. I know it isn't your fault."

Riley nodded. „It's ok."

„It's my fault Jack and I feel bad about it, believe me. But it had to be done." Angela entered the room and checked Jacks vitals.

The Delta looked daggers at her and threw back the blanket angrily. Angela rested her hand on his arm and searched for his eyes. When their glances connected she started to speak softly.

„Look Jack, I know you're angry and you have every right to be. I'm not proud of what I did, but I would do it again. I care about you and I won't stand by and watch you run yourself into the ground. And that has nothing to do with my profession. Look at it the other way around. If you were the one sick with fever and Mac would be the one taking care of you. Would you want him to continue until he collapsed?"

All the anger left Jack and he sagged back onto the bed. He looked down ashamed. After a minute he locked eyes with the nurse and his voice was hoarse with emotion when he spoke. „I'm sorry Angela. I know you only want what it's best for us. I try to do better. Can … can I see Mac? How is he?"

Angela smiled kindly. „Of course you can see him. I'm afraid, he's about the same. His fever is still hovering around 104°. I wish I had better news for you."

„I'll brought you a change of clothes. Come on big guy, let's go to Mac." Riley chimed in and tried to be cheerful, although she wasn't entirely successful.

Doc Ward was checking on Mac when they entered the room. „I should have known, you wouldn't sleep any longer. It's good to see you up and about." The physician said with a warm smile.

Jack ignored his comment and asked instead. „How is he Jacob?"

„We've identified the kind of bacteria that made him sick. I've just administered the first dose of the antibiotics designed to kill these germs. He should get better soon. The scans showed no injury." The physician reported and left the room.

With a relieved sigh Jack sank onto one of the uncomfortable chairs, Riley sat down on the other side. Mac looked incredibly young and fragile. He was still very pale apart from the flush on his cheeks.

„Relax Jack, he's going to be fine. You've heard Doc Ward." Riley tried to cheer him up.

The hacker was right, his whole posture was tense. Jack rolled his head and tried his muscles to loosen up. A few pops made Riley grimace and the Delta smile. An hour later the hacker got a call from Matty, that she was needed.

„Try to get some rest big guy." She pressed a kiss on his head and left the room.

Jack was still bone tired, but determined to stay awake until Mac woke up. But without Rileys chatter his eyelids grew heavy and he was asleep a short time later.

Bright, it was still too bright. There was something in his arm. Shit. They must have drugged him. He needed to get out of here. Mac hissed as he ripped out the IV. Everything swam, the blond had to hold onto the bed until he trusted his legs to hold his weight. A surge of Adrenaline provided him with the neccessary strength and he wobbled to the door, not noticing his partner softly snoring away on the other side of the bed.

Jack didn't know what woke him up, but his first glance was to the bed and he froze when he found it empty. With a curse he was out of his chair and into the hallway. Frantically his eyes scanned his surroundings. He spotted his partner in front of the elevator and started to sprint when Macs legs started to give out.

Just a split second before the blonds body hit the floor Jacks strong arms grabbed him. „I've got you hoss. I've got you." The Delta mumbled into his sweaty mob. Carefully he gathered Mac in his arms and carried him back to his room. Angela came running and elped getting Mac settled back in bed. She got in a new line and put a piece of gauze on his bleeding arm.

„Even out of his head with fever, he tries to escape." The nurse said with a fond smile and checked his temperature. „It's going down, slowly but surely." She gave the Delta a pat on the shoulder and left the room.

„Thank God, about time he gets better." Jack muttered and stroked Macs sweaty bangs out of his face.

Jack must have fallen asleep, because his neck was killing him when he woke. He rotated his head until an audible pop could be heard. The Delta groaned in relief and was startled when he heard a snicker from the bed.

„Hey hoss, it's good to see those baby blues open for a change. How are you feeling?" Jack noticed the fevered flush was gone from his cheeks and Macs eyes looked clear for the first time in days. He reached out a hand to feel his partners forehead, but was butted away.

„I'm fine. But I don't remember what happened." The blond added with a frown.

„Short version. Siberia, snow storm, exfil delayed and a partner with a thousand degree fever." Jack summed it up.

„Oh …"

„Yeah oh. I swear, I got at least twenty more grey hairs now." Jack complained, but he couldn't hide his smile. „You really scared me there hoss. You had a seizure and I couldn't do anything to help you." The smile disappeared and Jack was choked up with emotion.

Mac reached out a hand and searched his friends. „You were there for me. That's enough. I'm sorry, I put you through all this." Guilt was written on Macs face.

Jack tightened his grip on the blonds hand. „You've nothing to be sorry for hoss. It's my fault, that you had to suffer. If I had done my job properly, it wouldn't have happened."

Mac looked confused. „I'm sure it wasn't your fault Jack, but I'd like to know anyway what happened to me, as I have no idea."

And so the Delta started explaining what had led to Macs current condition. When he stopped he looked down, not able to face his partner. So Jack was startled, when Mac started laughing loudly.

„Did the fever fry some of your brain cells?" The Delta asked dumbfounded.

Mac laughed harder and it took him a minute to calm down. „You can't seriously think that was your fault. There's always a risk of infection, when you have a wound somewhere. Even when you're in hospital under the best possible conditions, it can't be ruled out. Ask Doc Ward, he'll tell you the same. I know, you tend to taking the blame for everything bad that happens to me, but it really wasn't your fault. You saved me out there Jack. Thank you for taking care of me big guy."

Suddenly all the tension left Jacks body and he could see the truth in Macs words. „Your welcome hoss and thanks for setting me straight." He added with a real smile.

„So, care to explain what happened to your head? I don't remember you headbutting a baddie, when we were at the compound?" Mac asked curious.

Jack blushed with embarrassment, but he knew that his partner deserved the truth. „It was … a kind of … you were so sick and exfil wouldn't come …" He took a deep breath and got it finally out. „I was beginning to have a panic attack and hit my head on the table to snap out of it. It's fine, they've already checked it out. And before you start, I know that's a bad coping mechanism bla, bla."

Mac shook his head and smiled. „Next time go for a pinch in the leg."

„That's what Angela said. I have to warn you, she's pissed you tried to escape earlier." Jack said.

Macs eyes widened. „Shit, I can't even remember that."

Jack nodded. „You were still running a fever. Try to get some rest partner." He added when he noticed Mac yawning.

The blond smiled sleepily and snuggled deeper into the blanket. Soon both agents were asleep and the room was filled with soft snoring.

When Mac woke next, Jack was still asleep. The blond stretched and the sqeeking of the bed woke his partner. „Hey Mac, feeling better?"

The blond nodded, then his eyes widened with horror. Jack immediately got concerned. „What is it Mac? Are you in pain? What's wrong, talk to me hoss?" He urged.

The blond pointed to the door and Jack turned around to see what got his partner so agitated. A moment later the Delta was almost bursting with laughter. He couldn't stop laughing until tears were streaming down his face. „I … I would … take that … as a warning. No messing around with that woman." He wiped at his eyes, but was still grinning broadly.

Mac pouted. „You think this is funny, he? This is horrible." He shuddered and Jack started guffawing again.

There, right beside the door, hung a pink hospital gown, with Macs name printed in front of it in huge letters.

The end.

AN: It would be great, if you'd leave me a few final words.