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Chapter 6

Riley watched Jack slip into sleep and tried to blink back the tears, that were threatening to fall. She felt guilty, that her friends were lying in the hospital beds, beaten and broken. It wasn't the first time that they had to endure torture, but Riley felt, that she should have been able to prevent it. If only she had worked harder and faster none of this would have happened. The clue was right before her eyes the entire time and she failed to see it. She failed and because of that, Jack and Mac had to suffer so much pain. No, now was not the time for wallowing in her misery. She would deal with it later, when she was alone. So she shoved her emotions back again and concentrated on the Delta.

Riley was so grateful, that Jack and Mac were alive and would be ok. She could have rested now, but she was afraid that one or both of her friends would take a turn for the worse. Concussions were a bitch and Jack was only out of surgery for a short time. She wouldn't risk sleeping and not be awake, if one of them needed help suddenly. Riley wasn't able to relax just yet.

Everything had gone quiet in the sick room, except from the noises of the machines Mac was hooked up to. Bozer was still sleeping and Jack and Mac were resting peacefully as well. The soft snoring from Jack, that often annoyed Riley on her flights on the Phoenix jet, was suddenly a sound she loved. God how she had missed him, when he walked out on her as a teenager. Riley still felt bad for fighting him and resenting him time after time. To be honest she didn't know why she did it. The realization, what Jack had really meant to her only set in once he was gone. Riley was devastated and only then did she understand that Jack had been like a father to her. A real father, not the drinking and brutal man that Elwood was. Jack had lectured her about the dangers out in the world, after picking her up when she had sneaked out to go to a party, but only after making sure that she really was ok. Riley had just sulked, not realizing, that it was love that made Jack so angry and concerned.

The door opened and Matty walked in. She observed her injured agents for a few moments and then turned to the hacker.

„You did an incredible job Riley. Thanks to you we got them back. I'm proud of you." The director praised her.

„Proud? How can you be proud of me? I should have seen the lead a week ago. Look at them, broken bones, concussions and so much pain. I could have spared them this, but I didn't. I should…"

Mattys no-nonsense-voice interrupted her harshly. „Don't you dare and blame yourself for this Riley. You wasn't the one who tortured them. You did your job and you did it well. We analyzed all the leads we had systematically. Satellite images, traffic cams and so on. When we didn't find anything we went over the data again. There were so many transactions and you took them all apart until you found the one that gave us the intel we needed. I had all the other analysts working on it as well, but none of them saw what you recognized. You saved them, period. Stop blaming yourself." Mattys voice softened. „You need to take care of you Riley. I know this mission took a toll on you. Go home and rest, they're gonna be ok."

„I go home, when they go home. Right now I don't want to be anywhere else." Riley said simply.

Matty nodded, understanding the need for the hacker to stay close to Jack. It hadn't escaped her how strong the bond between Jack and Riley was. The hacker loved Mac too, but with the Delta it was a whole other level. Only then did Matty realize how hard it must have been for Riley.

„Ok, but when they are released, I don't want to see you here for at least a week," the director ordered and Riley smiled.

„Thanks Matty."

A few hours later Mac began to stir. Riley was walking around the room to stretch her legs. She stepped to the bed and waited patiently until Macs eyes opened. He looked around the room and saw Jack sleeping.

„Is he ok?" Mac asked voice rough from sleep and a dry throat. Riley helped him to drink and answered.

„Yes, he is. He came through surgery well. They put some screws and a plate in his arm." She explained.

„I knew it was a bad break," Mac gulped „I had to grab the broken arm to pop his shoulder back in," the blond shuddered at the memory. „He passed out, because the pain was too much to handle for his body. And after he came to he had to set my leg and splint it."

Riley nodded and stayed silent. She was not sure, if she wanted to know all the details.

„How did you find us?" Mac asked curiously.

„Hunters mum owns the property. We found out that there were payments for an old folks home in Switzerland, where she's staying. Sorry, it took me so long." Riley gave him the short version.

„Hey, you found us! We knew they were well organized and really good at hiding their tracks. Don't be sorry Ri, you did really good." Mac shot her a grateful smile.

„But they hurt you so much," the hacker protested.

„We'll be ok. We've both had worse." He couldn't suppress a yawn.

Riley smiled. „Go back to sleep Mac, you need it."

„I think I will."

The rest of the night was quiet, with only a nurse coming in and checking on her patients. They really seemed to be doing as well as could be expected and Riley relaxed a little.

A moan got her attention and she saw Bozer waking up and wincing. „I don't know, how Jack can practically live in these chairs for days on end, when Mac is laid up. My back and neck are killing me."

Riley smiled. „I know what you mean. I have to stand up and walk around for a bit periodically."

„You were awake all night? Oh Ri, you need to sleep. Why don't you go home? I promise to have an eye on them and prevent any attempts at escape."

„I'll go home, when they are released." The hacker said in a tone, Bozer knew was not up for discussion.

The sun was rising and Phoenix Medical awoke with nurses coming and going. Changing IVs, checking vitals, looking at their wounds and bringing breakfast.

Jack snorted, when he saw his breakfast. „No bacon? Come on, they were practically starving us," the Delta complained.

„Exactly. That's the reason, why you're just getting food that's easy on your stomach." The nurse was not putting up with her patients attitude.

With a sigh Jack grabbed the fork and began to eat his eggs and nibble on the toast.

Mac piped up. „Hey at least they broke your left arm. Do you remember, when your right arm was in a cast. You always made a mess, when you were eating."

Everybody laughed at the memory and Bozer added. „I was running out of finderfood recipes and hearing you slurp soup through a straw still gives me nightmares." The room errupted again in laughter. Riley smiled but didn't join the conversation.

Mac and Jack slept most of the day and Bozer left after lunch to go home and prepare everything that would be needed when they would be released in the afternoon. Doc Ward checked on them and was satisfied with their progress.

Their converstaions were light and they avoided the details of her captivity. Jack didn't like Rileys appearance. It was unusual for her to be dressed in a hoodie and leggings. Dark circles were visible under her eyes, but she refused to go home until Jack gave up. He was not feeling too well himself and understood her need to be close to them. It had been almost two weeks and it must have been really hard on her.

It took Riley all her strength to pull herself together and not to cry whenever one of her friends moaned in pain. But she needed to be strong for them. They had been through so much, they shouldn't have to worry about her. Riley was tense, even now that she knew that everything would be alright she couldn't break free of the terror that had taken hold of her. When Bozer came with two duffle bags with clothes for Mac and Jack, she stepped out of the room. Riley leaned against the wall outside their room and took deep breaths as she felt dizzy. The sensation passed after a few minutes and she walked back into the room and plastered a smile on her face.

„Ready to go home guys?" She asked.

„I was ready yesterday," Jack answered and pulled her in for a hug. „Jeez Ri, how much weight have you lost?" He asked concerned, when he registered how slim she was under the big hoodie.

„Not as much as you big guy," she shot back and tried to distract him. „What about pizza tomorrow night? Do you think you can handle a little grease? Maybe we should order a vegetarian for you." Riley teased.

„Ew that's disgusting," Jack shuddered and said. „I can handle my favourite pizza, don't worry."

Out at the parking lot they said their goodbyes. Bozer took Jack and Mac to Macs place and Riley drove home to her apartment.

Bozer helped Mac out of the car and took their bags while Jack walked right beside the blond. Mac was still a bit unsteady on his feet and walking with crutches, while having broken ribs and a concussion was quite difficult and painful. „Whoa, easy Mac," Jack reached out his good arm and steadied his partner, when he tilted to the side.

„Thanks Jack. I think, I'll keep walking at a minimum until my head is better." Mac stated and Jack got even more concerned at the fact that his friend was admitting weakness. „Maybe you should have stayed at Medical a few days longer hoss. With my arm, I'm not that much help." The delta said.

„No way Jack. I'm fine, well I will be fine. I'll just take it easy and Matty has Bozer on nurse duty, so we can shoo him around." Mac tried to lighen the mood.

„And that's why you are both taking your pain meds and going to bed once we're in, or" he added as he sensed that his friends were going to protest „I'll rat on you. Matty said to just call and she'll send over the nastiest nurse she can find." Bozer smiled like the devil himself, while Mac and Jack stood there open mouthed.

As soon as they entered the house they received theis meds and were ushered to bed like little kids. But to be honest, both men were to tired and exhausted to put up a fight.

Bozer checked on them once more and then walked back into the kitchen to prepare some soup for dinner.

Four hours later Jack walked into the living room and gingerly sat down on the couch. Bozer laid his book aside and asked. „How are you feeling Jack?"

Jack grimaced. „Honestly, I'm still tired. Sleeping with a fucked up arm sucks."

Bozer nodded in sympathy. „I bet. I don't want to imagine the pain you must have been in, when Mac set your shoulder."

Jack smiled. „I passed out pretty quickly and Mac splinted my arm while I was out. So it could have been worse. Honestly, I was more afraid for Mac. He was running a pretty good fever and his coughing was bad. You got to us just in time. We wouldn't have been able to hold on much longer." Jack admitted.

„Thanks to Riley. She did an amazing job. I have never seen her so determined and stubborn." Bozer admitted.

„Why stubborn? What do you mean?" Jack wanted to know.

Bozer got uncomfortable. He feared how Jack might react when he learned what had happened while he and Mac were captured.

„Bozer out with it!" Jack urged.

„Well, she refused to rest, working furiously on every lead we had until," he broke off, hesitating how to phrase his next words.

„Until what?"

Bozer decided for the naked truth, he knew sugarcoating wouldn't work with Jack anyway. „Until she passed out in the war room."

„What? How could you let that happen? Why didn't Matty put her foot down?" Jack started yelling.

„She did, Jack. Doc Ward examined Riley and said she needed to sleep and eat. Matty sent her home. Riley put up a fight at first, but Matty had her escorted by two of the tac guys. They took her home and brought her back after six hours. They did that every day, but to be honest I don't think she slept much while she was at her apartment. I tried to get her to eat, but other than a power bar now and then I don't think she eat much. Jack, I know you are mad at me now, but believe me I tried, I really did. But Riley is as stubborn as you and Mac are." Bozer looked down, but Jack had seen the guilty expression on his face. „She was so worried, working frantically on every dataset and analyzing traffic cams. It was so hard on her and I wasn't any help."

Jack sighed. „I'm sorry about all you were put through. And Bozer, just for the record, I'm not mad at you. I've known Riley for such a long time and stubborn is her middle name." He ran a hand through his hair, leaned back and closed his eyes. He thought how pale and thin his girl had looked back at Phoenix Medical. Her tenseness and the strained smile. Jack shook his head, why hadn't he seen how bad off Riley was. He needed to check on her. Now.

„I have to make sure, she is ok," Jack said and took his phone from the coffee table.

„Jack you can't drive, while on heavy pain meds, and I can't leave Mac alone with his concussion. You need to rest as well." Bozer objected.

„I need to check on my girl, but I know I'm not up to driving. I'm taking an Uber. I'm gonna stay at her place tonight. You have an eye on Mac, ok?" Jack rose and swayed for a moment. Bozer immediately steadied him, not liking how shaky Jack still was. „I'm good now." Jack mumbled when he had found his legs. He straightened and shot Bozer a smile. „Relax Bozer, I'm gonna let you know, when I arrived at Rileys place."

„You better do Jack, or I'm gonna send a tac team after you," Bozer threatened.

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