To say getting Mac back to The Phoenix was exhausting was an understatement, he was on edge the whole time, flinching at noises and sights, asking what was happening, where they were going, where was his father. What hurt the most for Jack was the way he shrunk back when Jack moved too close or raised his hand, as if he were going to hit him. In the end, Jack sat extremely still and gave Mac some headphones to put in, finding some soothing music for him to listen to. It did the trick; the rest of the trip was silent.
They had decided to take Mac to The Phoenix and bring in any specialists they needed, familiar sights and people, before they arrived Jack had told everyone to stay away, knowing that it wasn't fair on them but also knowing that Mac wouldn't be able to take it. He had only just accepted Jack and the other members of the tac team.
They got Mac settled in a room, one of the doctors joining them straightaway, he was an army veteran and knew how to handle traumatized soldiers, in a way that's what Mac was. Before anything could even take place Mac had frozen and then walked to the corner of the room, sitting himself down.
Doctor Fray looked at Jack and then to Mac, deciding that the best course of action was to leave him where he was, he was obviously unhappy on the bed. It would be hard to do a proper exam with him sitting but he'd do his best.
"Mac, do you remember me?" Dr Fray asked, they had met a couple of times, but he wasn't sure what was happening with his patient's memory, so thought it best to check.
Mac looked over and nodded, looking down at the floor again closing his eyes. It was too bright in here and it was giving him a headache. He better not say anything though, he'd already asked far too many questions on the way here and he hadn't even been hit once. Maybe this man in the white coat was here to punish him.
"Is the light bothering you?" Doctor Fray asked, Jack had given him a brief rundown of what he knew and how Mac had been found. He wasn't sure how long the man had been blindfolded for and he'd had a long car ride on top of that.
Again, Mac nodded. The lights were dimmed, and he opened his eyes, that was much better.
"I'd like to exam you; would that be ok?"
Mac was confused, his father always told him that he needed to examine him, he never asked Mac's permission, he didn't have to, so why did this doctor. He remained silent, but nodded for a third time, the doctor would do it anyway, so he wasn't sure why he had asked.
Dr Fray approached cautiously, not wanting to startle his patient. He knelt, not sure he's knees would be happy when he got back up. Mac sat up straight and stayed perfectly still, hardly moving even though it was obvious he was in pain.
Dr Fray tried to be quick, there were so many injuries, new and old, that it took a little time for him to make sure there wasn't anything that needed his immediate attention. Once he was satisfied he moved on to the cuffs, Mac flinching when he picked up one of his wrists.
"How long have these been on?" The doctor hoped Mac would answer.
He had asked a direct question, so Mac felt it safe to speak. "Three weeks."
Jack cursed behind them and Mac looked over, that seemed so familiar.
"Do they hurt?"
Why did that matter? His father had told him they were always to stay on, it didn't matter if Mac didn't like them. He wanted to tell the doctor this but held his tongue. "They're fine."
By the look on the doctors face he hadn't believed him, instead he took something out of his pocket and brought it up to the cuff. It was a key.
"NO!" Mac cried, wrenching his hand away. He wrapped his arms around him and leaned back against the wall. Why were these people taking away everything his father gave him? He started to cry, not being able to stop.
"That's ok Mac, we'll leave them on. It won't do any harm. We'll wait until you're ready."
Jack was approaching and Dr Fray put his hand up to stop him, getting up slowly and motioning for the man to follow him out. Jack obviously didn't understand and wanted to protest but did as the man asked.
"What the hell doc?" Jack exclaimed as soon as they were outside.
"It might be hard for you or me to understand, but those cuffs are part of him. Removing them without his permission would be detrimental to his recovery. I don't see any problems leaving them for now, his skin doesn't appear to be infected, there are some cuts on his wrists where they've obviously dug in, but they are healing."
"You've gotta be kidding me? Surely us leaving them on, is telling him that we agree he should be wearing them?"
"I don't agree, at least for now. We'll try again tomorrow, then the day after, and the day after, until he agrees."
Jack hated it but nodded. "What's your opinion on everything else?"
"It would take all day to give you my opinion." Dr Fray said, shaking his head as he thought of what the young man in the room had been through. "The short of it is, apart from some broken ribs, it looks like most of the bruising is superficial. His father clearly knows how to give a beating without doing too much damage!"
"Good, so what's the plan?" Jack asked, cringing at the doctor's words.
"I would like him to have a shower and put some warm clothes on, have something to eat and sleep in the bed, if he will. We'll think about running any tests tomorrow."
Jack nodded, opening the door and walking in, finding Mac in the same position as they'd left him. The room was a private one with a bathroom attached.
"I'll get some clothes and arrange for some food to be brought in," Dr Fray said. "It's important that we don't push him into anything he's not comfortable with. If staying in that corner makes him feel safe then he can, I'd prefer he didn't sleep there, but if he's been sleeping on the floor for a month, one more day isn't going to hurt him."
Jack hated it but he knew the doc was right, he would try hard to get Mac to sleep in the bed though, maybe if he stripped it down to the mattress?
"Hey buddy, we thought you'd like a shower. It's just through that door, I'll wait here for you."
Jack thought he would ask if he wanted one, but hint that he should have one by saying he'd wait there for him, hopefully that would be enough. Mac looked up and then over to the door, biting his lip. He was shaking his legs slightly and Jack thought he looked like a child who really needed to pee but was holding it in. He suddenly realised that was probably the case, who knew how long it had been.
"Do you need to go kiddo?"
"Yes."
Jack smiled; glad he'd got an answer. He pointed to the door. "Toilet's in there, go and then have a shower."
Mac got up straightaway and walked into the room, closing the door. He was still so confused but decided he should do as he was told. He wasn't sure how long he would be there. Relieving himself, he took off his boxers and stepped in the shower. It had a door which he didn't like, so he left it open. He showered quickly and dried himself, guessing he had to put his old underwear back on. He stood there waiting, he hadn't been told what to do after or given any clothes to wear. Maybe they expected him to know what to do. He looked around, maybe they had left some clothes.
As Mac searched with his eyes, not his hands, he mustn't touch anything, he looked up and saw someone staring back at him. This was the first time in a month he'd seen his reflection, he looked terrible, his face was bruised and his lips cracked, his hair was short were his father had cut it, some places shorter than others. His mind went back to the last time he'd looked in a mirror and he smiled, thinking about how happy he'd been. No, that wasn't right, he couldn't think about that, his breathing was quickening, and he didn't know what to do.
Jack sat on the bed, hoping the doc wouldn't be long with the clothes, he should have waited, if Mac finished he wouldn't have anything to wear. He was just wondering if he should look for someone when he heard the water turn off. The kid was never that quick in the shower, must be something his father drummed into him. Jack got up, thinking the door would open and Mac would ask about clothes.
There was no door opening and Jack heard Dr Fray come in, putting the clothes on the bed, he was about to speak when a crash come from the bathroom. They both rushed over, Jack reaching the door first.
Mac had smashed the mirror, blood dripping down his hand, glass everywhere. He immediately started moving, he had to clean up his mess, this was unacceptable behaviour.
"Stop," Jack cried, and Mac froze.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he repeated, tears trailing down his face again.
Jack hadn't meant to shout but Mac was about to step in broken glass, and he had nothing on his feet. "Oh, buddy it's ok, you don't have to cry."
That was obviously the wrong thing to say, as Mac flinched as if he'd been slapped and he looked at the floor.
Dr Fray stepped in at this point, putting a towel over the glass so that Mac could step out of the bathroom. Leading him over to the bed and telling him that he needed to look at his hand. No one seemed to pay any attention to the fact Mac was completely naked. Not even Mac.
Half an hour later and Mac was dressed, his hand bandaged, a little awkwardly due to the cuff on his wrist and he was now back in the corner.
The glass had been cleaned up and Jack was sitting once again on the bed. He didn't know what to do, everything he said seemed to make things worse, maybe he just needed to leave Mac alone. That idea left his head as quickly as he'd thought it, Mac had been alone for a month and he'd been told multiple times that Jack didn't want him, if he left now then it would show the kid his father was right.
"How're you doing Kiddo?" Not sure he would get any reply Jack asked anyway.
"I'm sorry," Mac said, probably for the tenth time.
"It's ok, the mess is cleaned up and we're all fine, no big deal," Jack said lightly, hoping that it eased Mac's suffering.
"It was unacceptable behaviour," was Mac's reply instead.
Jack wasn't sure how to respond to that, if he told him it wasn't or that it was fine, Mac wouldn't believe him. He so desperately wanted to but instead he kept quiet. Mac's next words chilled him though and he needed to step out of the room before he said something he'd regret.
"I should be punished."