Once Bitten Twice Shy Part 3
Matty disappears into her office and Mac takes a couple of more steps toward it, but suddenly pivots and rushes towards the nearest men's room. Jack and Bozer follow immediately concerned and enter the rest room in time to hear Mac puking up his breakfast. After Mac finally stops heaving, Jack wets a paper towel and knocks on the stall door before pulling it open. Jack hands the wet towel to Mac who thanks him with a nod.
"You okay, man?" Jack asks.
"Yeah, I think the doughnuts were just too much too soon after three days of nothing but roots and berries." Mac confesses.
"You sure? Maybe we should get you down to medical?" Bozer worries.
"Nah, I'm all good. Besides, Matty is waiting and she didn't seem all that happy." Mac states.
"She'll understand if you're sick." Jack counters.
"I'm not. Like I said, breakfast just didn't agree with me." Mac assures getting up but wobbles a bit having depleted his energy reserves.
"Uh huh, that's why you look ready to pass out." Bozer chastises as he steadies his friend.
"Dizziness is common after vomiting. You're reading too much into it." Mac dismisses.
"Maybe, but let's see how you feel in a few minutes. Sit down here for a spell…" Jack directs Mac to the bench just outside the restroom.
"…Would you two stop mother hen-ing me? I'm fine. Matty's waiting and…" Mac begins.
"…and five minutes won't kill anyone. Now, you have two choices. You can sit here for a bit or we can escort you to medical. What's it going to be?" Jack asks, no nonsense.
"Whatever." Mac caves taking a seat.
Matty's been sitting behind her desk for going on eight minutes. She lefts out a frustrated breathe, gets up, and walks to the door. Standing in the threshold, she finds the hallway empty. She sighs and checks her watch, resolving to give him one more minute before she goes looking.
"Well, your coloring is a lot better." Bozer admits as Mac stands up.
"No more dizziness, nausea, anything we should be concerned about?" Jack inquires.
"Nothing. I told you…" Mac begins.
"…I'm fine." Mac, Jack, and Bozer finish the sentence simultaneously, causing each to laugh.
Matty walks around the corner to her three agents chuckling.
"What the hell, Mac!? Do you not understand the meaning of 'now' or perhaps you need directions to my office?" Matty snaps.
"Matty, he…" Jack begins.
"…Jack, save it! Mac, move it and I mean now!" Matty demands and waits until Mac takes off toward her office.
Jack and Bozer cringe when they hear her office door slam a minute later. Matty walks around to face Mac who has already taken a seat in front of her desk. He opens his mouth to apologize, but her hand gesture cuts him off.
"Don't. That was by far the most disrespect an agent under my command as ever shown me. Not only did you fail to report to my office immediately despite the fact that you were literally six feet away, but instead I find you laughing it up with your buddies. The last time we spoke, you told me your record should speak for itself and boy does it. You exhibit a blatant disregard for procedure and disdain for authority. You may be the smartest person in any given room, but that does not exempt you from having to follow orders. I've told you before that I can respect when people disagree with me, but there is a right way and wrong way to go about it. I will not tolerate outright subordination! Now, are you aware that protocol dictates that you should have checked in last night at the first opportunity?"
"I am, and I had every intention of calling Jack, but…"
"…Stop. A – Your intentions are irrelevant. B – As your supervisor, your first call should always be to me. You have memorized the number to my secure line, haven't you?" Matty inquires.
"I have." Mac verifies.
"Good, I expect you to use it from now on. You need to revise your attitude regarding the chain-of-command. Otherwise I can't use you as an agent, much less a team lead. Now, I do believe that you can learn and change. The reports I've received regarding the incident with your flight only reinforce that belief. You emerged as a leader in that crisis and were able to rally all the passengers to work together and provide them with clear easy-to-follow direction. It's apparent that you did take the classes seriously. From now on, I also expect your behavior will reflect a deference for authority. There is absolutely no excuse for anything less. Have I made myself clear?" Matty concludes.
"Yes, crystal clear." Mac confirms.
"Good. Then go home and rest. Tomorrow's a new day and I expect you'll return with a fresh perspective." Matty dismisses.
"Yes, Matty." Mac responds and takes his leave.
Mac makes his way down to the lab and finds Bozer working on a mask as Jack watches.
"Hey Boz, can I borrow your car? Matty's sending me home for the day. I'll come back to pick you up after work." Mac requests.
"Sure thing." Bozer replies tossing him the keys.
"No, need to come back though. I'll give Boz a ride home." Jack advises.
"Thanks Jack." Bozer and Mac reply in unison.
"Do try to eat something you can keep down, huh?" Jack suggests.
"You got it." Mac promises as Matty walks into the lab and brittles seeing Mac there.
"Mac when I told you to go home, it wasn't a suggestion." Matty states tersely.
"Yes, I understand. I just needed to borrow a car." Mac replies holding up the keys.
Matty sighs, "Now that you have, you should probably be on your way."
Mac nods and leaves the lab toward the parking garage as Bozer shouts that he's parked on the second level of the garage.
"Thanks for sending him home Matty. Even though the vomiting was probably the result of too heavy of a meal after three days of foraging, He must be exhausted." Jack offers.
"Yeah, and I'm sorry. Jack or I one should have come to you and let you know what was going on so you weren't left hanging. When he got sick, I guess I just forgot that he was supposed to be somewhere else." Bozer adds.
"I'm sorry too Matty. Bozer's right, we should have looped you in." Jack agrees.
Matty takes in a sharp breathe, "Yeah, please do so in the future. Had I known, I would have handled things a bit differently."
"Wait, he didn't tell you?" Bozer asks surprised.
"Well, to be fair, I didn't give him much of a chance. Everything that needed to be said was, but the delivery could have been different if I hadn't been so irritated with Mac," Matty sighs resolving to straighten things out with Mac later, and moves on, "Anyway, Jack, I want you go help out with the tactical evaluations today. Bozer, can we get these masks completed by 3:00 this afternoon? New Intel suggests the Indonesian arms dealers have moved up their time table and I need to send that team off sooner than anticipated. "
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At 8:00 AM sharp the next morning, Mac's team gathered in the war room as Matty requested in the text blast she'd sent out the previous evening.
Matty walks in and, seeing that the team is gathered and waiting, begins her briefing, "So we have a situation in the Central African Republic. We had an informant gathering intel on the Rebels waging war, committing genocide, and keeping the region in political unrest. They are involved in many illicit activities to fund terrorism in the name of radical Islam. We have enough info to arrest and disband the group. Unfortunately the area destabilized quickly and our man was killed in cross-fire before he could hand off the intel-packed hard-drive stashed in Bangui. We are monitoring the situation and as soon as there is an opening, you all will be sent in to retrieve the drive. Whatever window we are given is liable to be short, so your team will be stationed in Uganda just outside of Arua. So much of Africa is in civil unrest, it's the closest we could safely put you to Bangui. It is too far to travel by land given the dangerous terrain and the fact that things are likely to change considerably in the day it would take you to get there. However, I've arranged for a V-22 to fly you in. We need to move on this intel so, Riley, I want you to upload a copy to the Phoenix servers at the first opportunity. Bozer, I want you to go along too as you and Riley will blend in and garner less suspicion from locals than Mac or Jack ever could. Hopefully the mission will prove less dicey than Amsterdam. Either way, it's officially sanctioned so disavow protocol is not in effect. Your flight leaves in 3 hours so get packed."
"Hey guys, I know it'll be hot, but pack pants and long sleeves. Preferably medium to heavy weight fabrics and neutral colors. Also, don't forget bug spray and sun screen. The thing about Africa is…" Mac starts.
"…Dude, you worry too much. I've been to Africa before and I'm sure Riley and Bozer are capable of referencing Google as needed." Jack interrupts.
"I know but…" Mac tries again.
"…Jack's right Mac. Jack, Riley, Bozer, go pack. I need to talk to Mac for a second." Matty interjects.
Jack, Riley, and Bozer leave the war room.
"Mac, about yesterday…" Matty begins but is interrupted by an urgent call from a team in Germany, "Sorry, it's an ongoing mission and I have to take this. You're dismissed for now, but come back by and see me before your flight."
Mac nods and heads off to prep his own go bag. He keeps a few ready for various climates, but takes advantage whenever he's given the time to tweak it to fit the specific situation. He stops back by the war room two and a half hours later, but Matty's in the middle of some crisis involving the team in Indonesia. Mac waits around a few minutes, but needs to get moving so he leaves a message with one of Matty's assistants to let her know he came by and had to leave. Then he heads to the tarmac where he meets up with the rest of his team.
"Hey Mac, what did Matty want to talk to you about alone?" Riley asks casually.
"I have no idea. We were interrupted by a call earlier and when I stopped by just now she was in the middle of something. I guess whatever it was will have to wait." Mac answers.
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"Damn, I had no idea such a tiny bug could inflict so much pain." Bozer grouses.
"Well, I told you not to roll down the windows. The dust kicked up by moving vehicles attracts them." Mac replies.
"Dude, it is a bajillion degrees. Besides you lost that vote, three to one." Jack defends while driving and swatting at the flies.
"How come you were the only one those evil insects aren't attacking anyway?" Riley questions.
"Because, I am wearing appropriate attire that doesn't attract them. I tried to tell you all. Despite the heat, Riley, sleeveless is not your friend here and short sleeve isn't much better, Boz. Jack, as much as you like black, the tsetse fly likes it more. Even if your shirts were long sleeved, the fabrics are too thin and the flies can bite through it." Mac explains.
"But you've got to be burning up in those clothes. I think I'd rather take my chances with the bugs than with the heat." Jack retorts.
"There Jack, on the left, that's where we'll be staying until Matty sends word for us to go retrieve that drive." Riley points out.
"That? That's nothing but a shack, my apartment is bigger than that." Jack complains.
"Well be that as it may. It's what we have so we'll just make it work." Mac directs.
"You're our leader. Can't you reach out to Matty and let her know we need more space?" Bozer requests.
Mac laughs, "Ha, I think any one of you would have better luck with that than I would. Let's just say Matty is not my biggest fan. There is no way I'm going to her with trivial complaints about accommodations."
Jack returns having checked out the space, "Well there's a set of bunk beds and a small futon. So unless two of us are planning to spoon at night, someone will be sleeping on the floor."
Bozer glances at Riley, but before he can say anything she says, "I'm not sharing a bed with any of you. I'll take the futon."
"I'm calling the bottom bunk. You two young-ins can fight over the top bunk." Jack declares.
"You know since you refuse to request better living quarters, it's only fair…" Bozer begins.
"...It's fine Boz. I'll take the floor." Mac acquiesces.
The first few days weren't that bad, but as the week progressed so did the irritability and bickering. Riley, Bozer, and Jack were arguing about who was going to head to the market and pick up food.
"Why should I have to go? I'll be the one that ends up cooking. Someone else should do the shopping!" Bozer demands.
"Exactly, you'll be doing the cooking so you'll know what to buy. I can't listen to you ranting about how I picked up the wrong onion again. It's exhausting!" Riley retorts.
Both Riley and Bozer look to Jack who practically shouts, "Well, it should be one of you two! You heard Matty, Mac and I stick out like a sore thumb here!"
"ENOUGH! What has gotten into you all? You've been at each other's throats for days. If you aren't fighting about something, you're complaining about it. I need you all to get it together." Mac interjects.
"Dude, I'm sorry but this mission sucks. It's ridiculously hot!" Bozer whines.
"And we spend most of the day crammed in this little Cracker Jack box." Jack defends.
"Plus, we're exhausted. It's proven impossible to sleep, between the heat and uncomfortable bedding" Riley adds.
"Yeah!" Jack and Bozer agree with Riley.
Mac is taken aback, "Well maybe you should try sleeping on the floor! Then the bedding wouldn't seem all that bad. Honestly, you all are behaving like… You know what, forget it. I'll happily go to the damn market to get a break from you all. I don't even care that I'll stand out."
Mac grabs their basket and storms out.
"What's his problem?" Riley snarks.
"Yeah, it's not like he is contending with these itchy bite marks from those pesky flies." Bozer agrees.
"I know, I think the itching fire of the healing is worse than the painful sores of the initial bites!" Riley agrees.
"Plus, he's been sleeping just fine on the floor. I should know since I haven't managed more than a couple hours at a time." Jack huffs.
About an hour later Mac returns from market to find Jack, Riley, and Bozer arguing about who is going to fix dinner. Matty had chimed into the open laptop about ten minutes prior. The feuding trio has yet to notice either Mac or Matty's presence.
"I've done practically all the cooking. It's someone else's turn!" Bozer shouts.
"Dude, you like to cook. Besides, you complain about everyone else's meals." Jack reminds.
"Well it's not my fault that you've gone your whole lives and never learned to fix a descent dish." Bozer retorts as they look to Riley.
"Hey, don't be pigs! Just because I'm a woman doesn't men that I should know my way around a kitchen." Riley sasses.
Mac raises his voice, "Stop! Look, I know it's hot and cramped and the waiting is tough, but there is no telling how long it'll take before the C.A.R. is stable enough to send us in. So deal with it! I'll fix dinner, but you all need to find a way to…"
"… NO!" Jack, Riley, and Bozer interrupt in unison.
"Mac, buddy, your cooking would only make the situation more unbearable." Jack elaborates.
"Yeah, it's the only thing I know of that you truly suck at." Riley adds.
"It's true. Our house rule still applies, you are not to step foot in the kitchen." Bozer agrees.
"That's a bit harsh, but at least you all can agree on something…" Mac begins.
Matty clears her throat loudly drawing everyone's attention to the computer screen, "I must say this little scene doesn't garner a lot of confidence. Unfortunately, we're stretched thin with active missions or I'd seriously consider recalling you all and deploying a more cohesive team. Bozer, Jack, Riley start prepping dinner TOGETHER. Mac, take the laptop somewhere we can talk privately."
Once they are alone, Matty continues, "What the hell is going on there Mac? I watched them bicker for ten minutes. And why were you at the market instead of Riley or Bozer?"
"Honestly, they were arguing about who should go so I.." Mac begins to explain.
"… So you went instead. Just like you agreed to fix dinner? This doesn't bode well for your ability to lead a team. I know they're your friends, but you need to direct them not pacify them. Anyway, I called to give you advance notice that the fighting in the C.A.R. is turning in our favor and I think our window will open in the next day or two so pull your team together and be ready. We'll talk more about this after you get home." Matty abruptly ends the call.
Mac heads to the kitchenette to relay this information and see if he can help with the meal prep.
Two days passed before the call came in that team had been waiting for and they set out to catch the V-22 to Bangui. Three hours later, they had landed and made their way to the hut that once belong to the Phoenix informant in search for the hard drive. It wasn't difficult to find as there weren't many possible hiding places in the small dwelling. Mac had become increasing concerned for his team members though, they seemed listless and their movements were stiff and uncoordinated. Riley's struggle to connect the drive to her laptop and start the upload was the final straw.
Mac assists her and once the transfer is in progress, he addresses his team, "Alright guys, what gives?"
"Man, we're just tired." Bozer grouses.
Mac takes a good look at his team. They appear tired and flushed. Their lymph nodes seem a bit swollen too. Mac racks his brain to figure out what sort of bug they may have picked up, when it dawns on him.
'Bug, of course! But if they're already symptomatic that means… No, no, no, no!' Mac's thoughts turn to panic as he berates himself, 'I should have thought of it, but it's just so rare! And for all three of them to be infected…. Matty's right, I've no business being a leader.'
Mac pulls himself out his dark thoughts and decides on a course of action, "Guys, I need you to stay here and make sure the upload completes."
"And where are you going?" Jack asks concerned about Mac venturing out on his own.
"Listen, I don't want to scare you, but I think you all may have a parasitic infection from those tsetse fly bites you endured. I'm just going to fetch a doctor. I'll be back." Mac explains.
"You're talking about African Sleeping Sickness." Riley realizes.
"Yes." Mac confirms.
"So that's why I feel so exhausted?" Jack asks.
"Probably. I won't be gone long, but I need to leave now. Just, after the upload completes, stash away the laptop. We don't want to blow our cover of being missionaries." Mac directs and heads out.
The others just nod and watch him go.
Mac arrives at the local clinic/hospital and explains to the doctor that his friends were bitten by tsetse flies ten days ago in Uganda and the symptoms they're exhibiting. Doc Tad Kalu concurs with Mac's suspicion regarding the Eastern version of African trypanosomiasis.
"I could come with you and get samples, but it will be better if you bring your friends in right away for testing and treatment. I'm sure you understand the delay between going back and forth could prove fatal." Tad cautions.
"I understand, unfortunately I'm not sure they can make the journey across…" Mac begins.
"You said they were still conscious when you left?" Tad questions and after Mac nods he continues, "I have a small cart out back that'll seat four. Take it and bring your friends in."
"Thanks." Mac responds taking the offered keys.
It occurs to Mac to check in with Matty, but he elects to ensure his team is taken care of first. He'll update her when he has more information to share.
'Besides, she has her damn intel.' Mac thinks ruefully.
After Mac arrives with the patients in tow, Tad helps get them situated in beds and performs a spinal tap on each.
"I'll process these right away and should know the results within the hour. I'm going to go ahead and start each on intravenous Suramin. Having examined them, I'm confident they're at least in the first stage of the disease." Tad advises.
"Thanks Doc." Mac replies worriedly.
"Please, just call me Tad. If you're willing, I could use your help in caring for your friends. Why don't you start by trying to cool them down." Tad hands Mac a bowl of water and some clean towels.
"Sure thing." Mac agrees, glad to be of some small comfort to his friends.
Mac felt his phone vibrate several times with calls or messages, not bothering to even check it. His world was at a standstill. The hour seemed more like days, but Mac rose seeing the doctor walking toward him. The grim serious expression Tad wore telling Mac everything he needed to know.
He listens as Tad confirms his fears, "I'm afraid the news isn't good. Each of their tests found the parasitic infection has crossed the blood brain barrier and is affecting their central nervous systems. I'm going to have to start them on Melarsoprol. Let's just hope none of them develop resistance to the drug or are part of the unlucky 5% that just can't tolerate it. You should probably advise their families or at least whoever is responsible for your group so they can relay the news."
"Yeah, I should go do that." Mac pulls out his phone and heads outback for some privacy.
Mac sees that he received coordinates for and missed Exfil, after which he missed a few calls from Matty who chose that exact moment to text him.
'What the HELL Mac? You'd better have a damn good reason for ignoring Exfil and going dark!' The text read.
Mac takes a deep breathe and hits dial.
The phones doesn't even complete one ring before Matty answers firmly, "Explain yourself!"
Mac sounds like a lost child, "I… they're sick Matty."
"Who is sick Mac?" Matty inquires, her voice softened.
"Jack… Bozer… Riley…. It's bad... We're at a small clinic." Mac's response is slow and disjointed.
"Alright. Let me speak with the doctor." Matty gently directs.
After getting all the pertinent details from the doctor, Matty requests to speak with Mac again and Tad hands the phone back over.
"Mac, we've got troops on the way to take down the Rebel strong holds. Unfortunately that means the fighting is about to get a lot worse. We'll do everything we can to shelter Bangui and keep you all safe. Once the C.A.R. is secure, we'll send a mede-vac to bring you all home. If things get too dicey, you are to evacuate. Got it?"
"I won't leave them! If I can safely relocate them should the need arise, then fine. But otherwise… they are my responsibility. You've said as much yourself. I'd sooner die than abandon them to the same fate." Mac responds with a fierce fire that takes Matty by surprise.
"Mac… I… Hopefully it doesn't come to that. Just… be smart and stay safe." Matty finally responds.
"I'll do my best," Mac replies curtly and disconnects the call.
"Be smart and stay safe? Really Matilda?" James practically spits.
Matty turns to face her boss, wondering for the first time if she is supporting the wrong MacGyver.