AN:
I'm blown away by all the positive reactions. Thanks for the reviews and for jumping in and favouriting the story after only one chapter. I hope, I won't disappoint you. So enjoy and maybe leave me few words if you like it. You probably know it by now, no medic, no native speaker, so sorry for the mistakes.
Chapter 2
Mac had spent a restless night. His mind was replaying the events after their mission. The fight with Cage had fortified his need to make things right with Jack. Mac was on his favourite running trail when the sun was coming up. Something was bothering Jack, but Mac was not sure exactly what it was. His friend was still struggling with episodes of PTSD. They were jumping Jack out of the blue sometimes, he broke down or was lost in a panic attack. On other occasions the Delta slipped into a slight depression, but he was a master at hiding it. Mac stopped and turned around. He had made up his mind. He would buy a box of Jacks favourite donuts and have a talk with him before heading to the Phoenix.
Mac stopped at Jacks apartment, but was disappointed to see that his partners GTO was already gone. It didn't matter, he would talk to Jack at work then.
When the blond entered the war room Matty, Riley, Bozer and Cage were already there. „Where's Jack?" Mac asked immediately. Bozer raised an eyebrow. „You left me a note, that you would pick him up Mac."
„I know, I was at his apartment, but his car was gone so I assumed he got an early start." The blond explained and a feeling of dread settled over him.
„I didn't see his GTO at the Phoenix parking lot," Riley stated and grabbed her rig. „I'm gonna locate his phone." Her fingers were flying over the keyboard. „Dammit," she cursed a moment later. „His phone is off."
„Check the traffic cams. Let's see if he got home last night," Matty ordered.
Mac started to pace the war room nervously. It wouldn't be the first time one of them was kidnapped. They had made too many enemies over the years. Please, don't let it be Murdoc, he silently pleaded.
„The cams near his house don't show anything. I'm gonna track him from Macs house last night. Got him. He left your place about nine o'clock." Riley had put the replay on the big screen. The team was watching Jacks journey. They were startled by the Deltas near miss.
„Something's wrong with him," Mac stated the obvious. Relieved he saw that Jack stopped his car soon after the incident. They couldn't see what was going on inside Jacks car. It was grating on Macs nerves. Several minutes went by until the door opened and a very pale Jack leaned against the GTO.
The Delta left the parking lot by foot and started walking away. „Where is he going?" Bozer wondered. Nobody answered, they just watched as Riley moved the images from one traffic cam to the other to follow Jacks path. She forwarded the tape until the Delta disappeared in a bar in one of the worst parts of the town.
„I know, what happened. He took the bar apart and landed himself in prison," Riley surmised.
Mac remained silent. He knew that was a possibility, considering Jacks strange behaviour. Riley forwarded the recording until the Delta appeared again.
He was swaying slightly. „He's drunk." Bozer spoke out the obvious.
„What did you expect? He was in there for five hours." Matty said dryly.
„Maybe he grabbed an Uber and is at home nursing one hell of a hangover," Riley speculated.
„I don't think so, I've already tried to reach him via landline." Mac disagreed. They concentrated back on the screen. A car appeared on the street and skidded along the tarmac. Suddenly it swerved and they watched with horror when their friend was hit. Jacks body was thrown into the windshield, over the top of the car and landed in a heap on the pavement. The Delta was not moving and Mac had to close his eyes for a moment, before he forced them open again. He was terrified he might just have witnessed his best friends death. Distantly he heard Rileys cry of distress and a shocked „Oh my god!" from Bozer.
Macs glance was fixated on the screen. „He's not stopping." Cages face was a mask. „What an asshole. Hitting a man and hightailing it out of there."
„C.. can you zoom in Riley?" Mac asked the hacker in a shaky voice and Riley complied. Jacks crumpled form filled the screen. The blond searched for an indication that his partner was still alive. Blood was running down Jacks face, a stark contrast to his pale complexion. „Move Jack … open your eyes … show me you're still here .." Mac whispered pleas were unheard by the Delta.
Suddenly a group of young people appeared. „At least somebody is there to help him now." Matty breathed relieved. Seeing Jack go down so hard and nobody there to take care of him, was really hard on her.
„What? No, no, no, no … you have to help him! Call an ambulance," Mac stuttered out.
It was a nightmare. One of the juveniles was going through Jacks pockets, he grabbed his purse and continued searching for something valuable. Jack stirred, his eyes opened, glance unseeing, a shaking hand reaching out for help. The Deltas lips moved, the recording was muted but the blond could make out what Jack was saying. MAC! It broke Macs heart seeing his friend asking for his help and he was not there for him. The blond flinched back when the kid hit Jacks face with his boot and knocked him out. The others were laughing and the group left, not caring that there was an injured man lying in a puddle of blood.
„My God no," Riley was crying now. Mac found himself on the floor, he had no idea when his legs had given out. Another car appeared on the scene. Nobody said a word, fear was paralyzing them. Two women jumped out of the car and rushed to Jacks side. One pulled her phone out, while the other tended to Jack. A small relief washed over Mac. At least now he got help.
An ambulance appeared on the screen. „Riley find out where they took him," Matty was back in boss mode, only a slight tremor in her voice proof of her distress at the sight of her injured agent.
„They brought him to Good Sam." Riley reported. Mac didn't wait to watch the footage further. He was already running out of the room, followed by his team mates.
After confirming Jacks ID the team was sent to the waiting room. The doctors didn't provide much information, only that Jack had suffered internal bleeding and was still in surgery. The blond had to fight to remain upright after such devastating news. He looked at his watch, it had been over six hours since the accident. Why was Jack still in surgery? It must really be bad. Mac took a seat away from the others. He simply wasn't up to conversation right now. The guilt he felt was sheer overwhelming. He had known something was going on with Jack. Why hadn't he pressed him harder? Why had he let him drive away last night? A shudder ran down Macs spine as he recalled Jack almost crashing his GTO. The Delta was an excellent driver. He managed to drive and shoot at the bad guys or prevent Mac from falling out the window at the same time. How messed up did he have to be to make such a mistake? Pretty bad was the answer. Mac remembered how pale and shaken his partner looked after he left his car.
„Oh Jack," the blond mumbled „what is going on with you buddy? Just hang on bro, we'll figure it out."
Cage came over and sat down beside Mac. „Not now, Cage." The blond pressed out before Samantha even started talking. She nodded. „I just want to say, I'm sorry about everything what happened yesterday."
„I think I'm not the one you should apologize to," Mac said softly. Cage sighed. „I know. I hope he pulls through."
„Me too," came a curt answer from Mac and Samantha took the hint and went back to the others.
It felt like an eternity until a doctor came in and asked. „Family of Jack Dalton?" Mac rushed over to him and said. „I'm listed as his next of kin." The physician nodded and looked at the others who had stood up too. „We are all family," the blond explained. The door opened again and Doc Ward, the head of Phoenix Medical walked in. He nodded a greeting, but remained silent. Mac shot Matty a grateful look for bringing their trusted physician in.
„Mr. Dalton suffered a severe concussion, a broken nose as well as three broken ribs, one of them caused the internal bleeding. We were able to repair the damage, but it was touch and go for a while, because his blood pressure bottomed out. He has severe bruising on the right side of his body, where most of the impact of the car must have happened. His right knee is also badly bruised, but there seems to be no further damage. He should be alright with a lot of rest and some PT for his knee." The doctor explained.
„Can I see him?" Mac asked relieved. The doctor nodded. „Yes, but only one person, as he is still in ICU."
„Go ahead Mac," Doc Ward encouraged and turned to his colleague. He introduced himself and said. „I'd like to see the surgery report and then we can discuss when he's able to be transported to our own facility." Both physicians left the room.
ICU. Beeping monitors, wooshing oxygen, buzzing blood pressure cuffs and other noises unique to a place like that. Mac hated the fact, that he was so familiar with the sad sound. Proof a body was fighting for survival. An indication that death was only heartbeat away. A pained smile hushed over Macs features at the bad pun. Jack would love it. With a sigh the blond settled in the chair beside Jacks bed and started to watch his partner.
A row of stitches was visible just under his hairline. Mac winced at the broken nose, knowing from experience how painful it was. The right side of his face was swollen and bruised, as well as his right arm where it peeked out under the hospital gown. The Deltas knee was elevated and packed with ice, it was almost twice his normal size. Jack would be in a lot of pain when he came to. His partner sported a nasal canula and a few lines were going into his body. Mac looked up and spotted fluids, antibiotics and a blood bag. Another line was disappearing under the blanket in the direction of Jacks middle and Mac winced in sympathy. A catheter, neccessary but embarrassing nevertheless for the one lying in bed.
Mac carefully slipped his hand under Jacks right. He didn't want to touch the back of his partners hand as it was showing ugly road rash. The medical personal had put the IV in Jacks left hand and Mac didn't want to get tangled up in the lines, so this was the best option. He couldn't sqeeze Jacks hand, but the warm weight was reassuring that Jack would indeed be alright.
„You just need to wake up and talk to me bud and believe me we have a lot to discuss." Mac muttered.
Jacks hand started to twitch. „Jack, can you hear me bud? Come on open your eyes," the blond encouraged his friend and was rewarded when two brown eyes looked at him confused a moment later.
„Hey, there you are. You gave me quite a scare." Mac smiled and waited for Jack to acknowledge him. The Delta took in the room. „ICU? 's not Phoenix Med. Wha appn?" Jacks voice was weak and slurred.
„You got hit by a car, remember?" Mac didn't want to overwhelm Jack with too much information, so he waited patiently until his partner had processed the words.
Jack frowned, his head was hurting pretty bad and all over his body pains awoke simultaneously. He closed his eyes and moaned. „On a mission? I don even r'member in which country we are?" Trying to get his brain to work was not the best idea at the moment. Jack thought his head was going to burst and suddenly he went green. Mac saw the signs and had a bowl ready a moment later. Jack threw up several times, the noise of retching only interrupted by moans and whimpers.
The blond wished he could stop his partners suffering. Jack was in a world that only held pain and misery for him. He couldn't decide what hurt more, his head or his middle. Both areas were having a fiery competition, who could cause Jack more agony. When the heaving finally stopped he slumped back into the pillow totally spent. Everything had a fuzzy edge and he was dimly aware of someone taking away the offending bowl. A straw was gently inserted into his mouth and Jack could make out Macs voice. „Only a sip Jack, easy, you don't want to be sick again." The Delta carefully took a few sips and it felt great on his throat. The room lost its foggy appearance and Jack found Macs eyes, filled with concern.
Jacks face was a mask of pain so Mac reached out to push the call button. „I'll get someone to give you something for the pain."
„No, wait," Jack ordered and blinked to get his eyes to focus better. He rode out another wave of pain and pressed out what he remembered now.
„I was at a bar, wasn't I? I heard a car and then … pain," he broke off, but Mac nodded. „That about sums it up buddy. I thought you were going home." The blond remarked.
„Yeah, I … I changed my mind." Jack thought for a minute, the reason why he was at the bar coming back to him and he couldn't stand the situation any longer so he decided to confront Mac. „I understand Mac. I knew, we would reach this point somewhere along the way, but … I didn't think … why didn't you tell me outright?" Jack breath hitched and he tried to stay calm, but it was so hard not to lose his shit right now. He felt raw and vulnerable and wasn't able to hold back his emotions.
Mac looked at him confused. „Jack, what are you talking about? Explain it to me. I knew, something was bothering you yesterday, but I thought you were maybe struggling with PTSD again."
Jack closed his eyes to brace himself. A minute went by and Mac thought that Jack was asleep again, but then the Deltas glance sought the blonds. And what Mac saw there shocked him to the core. A deep sadness, but also resignation paired with acceptance.
„What is it Jack?" The blond urged his friend. He was scared. What could be so bad that Jack was strugggling so much to get it out.
„I understand that you don't want me to be on your team any longer. Cage is an asset, she's young and fresh and fits way better in the pack, than I ever could. It just hurt to find out the way I did." Jack lost the fight to stay calm. Tears were streaming down his face, damn meds. His heart rate shot up and his breathing got laboured. The heart monitor beeped in annoyance, but Jack didn't register it.
Mac was too shocked to answer at first. Jack took that as confirmation that his assumption was correct. „You better leave now Mac. I want to be alone, ok?" It was getting harder for Jack to stay conscious and he had nothing left to face this situation.
That last statement brought Mac out of his rigor. „What? Jack, no! How can you think I wouldn't want you on the team?"
The blaring of the alarms got louder and more urgent. Between gasps Jack managed to get the words out. „The crazy uncle that nobody wants around … you could at least have … have told me face to face Mac. It …" Jack broke off and fought for air. Mac was overwhelmed. He needed to talk sense into his partner, but more important was his health right now. „Calm down Jack. It's gonna…" But Jack had already passed out. „Jack! Come on buddy …"
The door openend and the doctor and a nurse rushed in. They took in the situation and banned Mac from the room to take care of Jack.
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