AN:
Thanks for the reviews. I hope you will like this chapter.
Chapter 3
When Jack came to the first thing he registered was the gag in his mouth. He tried to reach up and pull it out, only to discover that his wrists were cuffed behind his back. The Delta blinked the world into focus against the pounding in his head. He was lying in the back of a van. If he got a dollar for every time this had happened, he could go on a nice vacation.
A groan beside him alerted him to the fact, that Mac was with him. Thank god. At least they hadn't killed them yet. But Jack had a pretty good idea, what was ahead of them and it wouldn't be pretty. Jack moved around so he could get a look on Mac. The blond was blinking slowly. The Delta couldn't see his eyes clearly because it was too dark in the van.
Jack didn't know how long he was out but he thought by the pounding in his head at least several hours and they were still moving. He started working on his bonds, but realized pretty soon that their capturers knew their business. The Delta felt his wrists getting slick with blood. Mac was starting to move around too, but seemed to be no more successful than he was.
The van came to a sudden stop and the door was opened. Rough hands grabbed the Phoenix agents and pulled them forward. The sun was just peeking over the horizon and Jack realized that he must have been out longer than he originally thought. He tried to take in as much of his surroundings as possible, which wasn't much. They were in front of a large building which looked like some kind of abandoned military complex. The weeds had run riot and some of the smaller builings were in different stages of decay. A brutal shove in the back almost sent Jack to his knees. Mac wasn't so lucky and fell on his face with a grunt of pain. Anger rose in Jack as he witnessed the unneccessary force the guards used. It was obvious that they were really pissed at the Phoenix agents.
Mac was pulled to his feet and they were led into the building. The mercs forced them down a few flights of stairs into the basement, where they were pushed into a cold cell. The room was a prision cell with a few old cots a small sink and a toilet in the corner.
Jack and Mac sighed relieved when their gags were removed and the restraints were taken off. The guards left without a word and they heard the heavy bolts sliding in place after the door was shut.
„How're you doin bud?" Jack wanted to know as he rubbed feeling back into his hands.
Mac did the same and answered. „I'm fine," but couldn't suppress a wince, when he moved his head around.
„Yeah, sure. You look like a sunny morning in spring." Jack didn't buy it as usual. „Looks like we're pretty far away from the other compound, if we travelled all night long."
Mac nodded. „You're right and they wouldn't have their backup place just around the corner. Looks military style." He obsereved.
Jack walked around their cell. „Fucking concrete, any idea how we get out of here?"
Mac shook his head. „Not yet." He suddenly went green and ran to the toilet, where he threw up violently. Jack walked over to him and rubbed his back. He tried the sink and was grateful, that it was still working and the water seemed clean. He ripped of the sleeve of his shirt and wet it. When Mac was done, the Delta guided him over to one of the cots and sat him down. He gently washed the face of his partner. Mac leaned into the touch and closed his eyes. Jack carefully felt around Macs skull until he found what he was looking for. A huge lump on the back of his head.
„They got you pretty good there, hoss. Look at me." Jack watched Macs pupils, they were even, but a bit to wide. „You've got a concussion bud. Why don't you lie down for a while?"
„We need to get out of here Jack. I'm fine and you got hit on the head too." Mac shoved Jacks hands away and stumbled to his feet. The Delta sighed, Mac was right, but he didn't like how his partner swayed for a moment. He stayed near the blond and together they examined the room for a possible way to escape.
Riley had worked through the night. Only taking a break, when she had to use the bathroom. The trash can in the war room was filled with several empty coffee cups. Bozer had fallen asleep a few hours ago and Matty was in her office calling in favours to bring her agents home.
The director walked into the war room and found Riley working furiously.
„Did you find anything Riley?" Matty asked.
The hacker shook her head. „No, every lead was a dead end so far. What about the tac teams?" She raised her glance from her rig, hope shining in her eyes.
„Nothing, all the buildings are destroyed. Not the slightest clue. They are searching the woods now. Ares was prepared for something like that to happen. No way they would've been able to clear the place and blow it up in only 30 minutes. What did you find on the sat feed?"
Riley threw her empty coffee cup in the trash bin with more force than neccessary. „I couldn't trace them, the canopy is so thick and there is no way to even guess how many dirt roads are leading away from the compound. There are no traffic cams for 80 miles. I'm searching the nearest ones for trucks and vans, but so far nothing. If they've split up, there is no chance to find them." She said angrily.
„Ok so we need to concentrate on the data you pulled out of their system." Matty concluded.
„Yeah, but I've only got money transfer data, that I've been not able to track yet." Riley admitted.
Matty observed her more closely. „Take a break, sleep an hour or two and then start again."
„Are you serious? Jack and Mac are out there somewhere, I'm not taking a break until we've found them." Riley shot deadly glares at her boss and Matty decided to let it go for now. She just hoped they would find their missing teammates soon.
Mac and Jack had searched their cell for hours, but they hadn't been able to find a way out. The walls, ceiling and floor were made of concrete and there was only a tiny opening right under the ceiling where fresh air came in. Not even a child would fit through it. The door was made of metal and heavy, outside there were at least five bolts.
Mac was once more studying the door, he bent down to get a closer look at the hinges. When he stood back up the room was spinning wildly. Everything dimmed. The blond blinked his eyes and found Jack leaning over him. Confused he registered he was lying on the cot on the other side of the room.
„Are you back with me hoss?" Jack asked concerned and ran the wet cloth gently over Macs face.
„Did I pass out?" Mac asked, even if he knew the answer to it.
„Yeah, you were out almost an hour." He held out a cup of water and helped his partner to take a few sips." Jack didn't like the pallor of his friend and he was frantic, that Mac was unconscious for such a long time. Not good, not good at all.
„We need to get out of here Jack," Mac said and moved to sit up again, but Jack pushed him back down gently.
„You need to rest your noggin for a while. We already searched the room ten times at least. Matty's on hot pursuit for sure and Rileys doing her thing too to get us out of here." Jack tried to reason with his partner. „Let's rest up for a bit. I'm sure they're starting to question us soon. Maybe they'll take us to another room and we find a way to flee then."
Mac nodded and laid back. Jack didn't know what worried him more. That the blond didn't argue about it or the unfocused glance. The Delta sighed and took the cot beside his partner. He knew they were in for a hell of a time and he took all the rest he could get to brace himself.
A short time later the door opened and three guards entered the room. Jack sat up and said. „About time you showed up. The room is in desperate need of cleaning and you can put a few fresh towels in our bathroom while you're at it."
Jacks plan worked. One of the men stepped forward and snarled. „You've got a big mouth Texan. We'll start with you. Let's see how talkative you are with the boss." The Delta was grabbed by two men and pulled out of the cell. Mac slowly sat up, feeling guilty that his partner had drawn the attention of their capturers to him. It was always the same, when they got caught. Jack was running his mouth and taking punches, while Mac tried to find a way out of their situation. Slowly he stood up and inspected the room once again.
Several hours later the door opened and Jack was dragged in and dropped to the floor. Mac rushed to his side and gently turned his partner over. The blond gasped as he took in Jacks mangled face. One eye was swollen shut, his lip was split and he had a nasty cut over his eye. His left side seemed to have taken the brunt of the beating, which indicated that he was beaten by a right handed man.
Mac gently tapped his friends face. „Hey big guy, I need you to wake up please." No response. After a few minutes of coaxing Jack started to stir and finally his good eye opened, but he wasn't able to focus. He tried to push himself up, but Mac stopped the movement. „Easy, take a moment. It's ok. It's over." Jacks head seemed to clear up and Mac asked. „Do you think you can stand, if I help you?"
Jack nodded and wobbled to his feet. With Mac supporting most of his weight, he shuffled over to one of the cots. He sank back with a grunt. Mac helped him to drink a few sips of water and winced as Jacks face contorted in pain. „Let me check you over bud." The Delta shoved his hands away. „Bruised ribs and a slight concussion. Nothing you can do about it hoss."
„Humor me Jack," Mac pleaded and pulled up his partners shirt. Jacks ribcage was mottled with bruises, but after carefully feeling around, trying to block out his partners grunts of pain, he agreed. „You're right Jack. Not broken, but badly bruised." Mac started to wash away the blood with gentle movements.
The Delta managed a grin. „Told you so, ˋs not too bad. I prefer a beating over being waterboarded any day."
Mac laughed. „I think they hit you harder than I thought. Do you really said you prefered one kind of torture over the other? That's weird, even for you."
„Come on Mac, don't tell me you'd rather have pulled your fingernails out than taking a few punches?"
Mac went a shade paler and pressed out. „I don't want to have this kind of conversation with you Jack. Not now and not ever. Am I clear?"
Jack snickered, what made him wince in pain. „Are we a bit on the edge?"
Mac couldn't suppress a smile. He was relieved that Jack was joking again. The blond felt guilty for it, but he was glad that Jack was with him. They would get out of there and he was sure, that their team was working furiously to get to them.
Back at Phoenix that was exactly what was happening. After checking in with the tac teams Matty turned to Bozer and Riley. The director shook her head. „Nothing."
„I'm starting to pick apart every single transaction, nothing so far. Just paying for supplies." Riley was pale and tension was radiating from her. Bozer sqeezed her shoulder. „It's gonna be alright Riley. We'll get them back, Mac is probably rigging something up already."
The hacker just nodded and sat back down to hammer at her keyboard again, when Matty closed her laptop. „Matty, what the hell!" She said annoyed, not caring about the tone of voice she used with her boss.
„You need to eat and you need to rest Riley. You're at it for 36 hours straight without a pause. Bozer take her to the cafteria and make sure she eats something. Then you're gonna lay down for at least two hours, before you continue. That's an order."
Bozer nodded and pulled a reluctant Riley out of the war room. The hacker only nibbled at her sandwich complaining. „That's ridiculous, sitting here and stuffing food into us. We don't know if Mac and Jack have anything to eat or drink. They could be lying out there…"
„Stop! Riley, you have to stop punishing yourself. None of what happened is your fault." Bozer tried to reason with the hacker.
Riley slammed her sandwich down angrily. „You don't get it, do you Bozer? It was my job to get access to their system and gather all the intel, so they could get out of there in time. It was my job and I failed. They are counting on me to find out, where they were taken. I don't have time for this." She threw her napkin on her plate, grabbed her coffee and left. Bozer sighed and began to eat the sandwich Riley had only taken a bite off.
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