Once Bitten Twice Shy: Part 7
A couple of weeks past and the team has just completed their first mission since being cleared for duty. The reconnaissance went smoothly for once and the team finds themselves prepared to land on the Phoenix runway just seven short hours after the initial briefing.
"Man, that was almost too easy. I definitely vote for more missions like that!" Bozer boasts.
"Yeah, I would second that." Riley agrees.
"Enjoy it because I can tell you it doesn't happen often." Mac laughs.
"Well, then we definitely need a celebratory Die Hard Marathon! Whatcha say, Jack, our place or yours?" Bozer suggests.
"Sorry, I'm going to half to pass this time around. I'm pretty tired." Jack replies.
"What!? Jack Dalton turning down a chance to watch Bruce Willis, hath hell frozen over?" Bozer gasps dramatically.
"It must have. I never thought I'd see the day." Riley jokes.
Mac, however, moves to Jack's side and asks concerned, "Hey Jack. You feeling okay?"
"I'm fine. Like I said, just tired," Jack replies while unsuccessfully ducking the hand Mac has place on his forehead.
"I think we should get you checked out, just to make sure the parasitic infection isn't rebounding. You do feel a little warm." Mac worries.
"Really, that's not necessary. I'm good, I promise." Jack insists.
"I don't know, Jack. It's probably better to be safe." Riley returns.
"I said no. Now, I just need to get some rest. If I'm not better in the morning, I'll let the doc look me over okay." Jack replies stubbornly.
Riley and Bozer are about to argue with him when Mac returns, "Deal, but I'm driving you home."
Bozer and especially Riley don't look happy about the arrangement but decide to follow Mac's lead; he has been working with Jack much longer than either of them.
"Fine." Jack accepts.
The team is waiting for the elevator after debrief. As soon as the elevator dings and the doors open, Mac announces that he left his phone in the war room.
"You want us to hold the elevator?" Bozer asks.
"Nah, go ahead. We'll get the next one." Mac replies.
Riley frowns and steals a sideway glance at Jack, who appears a little pale, but says nothing as Bozer chooses the floor for the parking garage.
Matty looks up as Mac walks back into the war room, "Mac, was there something else you wanted to discuss?"
"Actually yes. I'm concerned about Jack. He's tired and may have a low grade fever. What's really troubling me is he turned down a Die Hard marathon. You know how much he loves those movies. I can't get him to go down to medial to be checked out, but I thought…" Mac trails off, suddenly guilty for ratting out his friend.
"… But you thought I could. Damn straight. Thanks for coming to me with this." Matty charges out the war room to find Jack has taken a seat near the elevator.
"Jack, you will let Mac take you down to medical and you will cooperate with the examination. That's an order." Matty directs.
Jack looks up and shoots Mac a look of annoyance and betrayal before replying, "Yes boss. Let's go Judas."
Mac lets out a sigh that's a mixture of relief and regret.
The next morning, Bozer and Riley arrive in the war room per Matty's text to find neither Jack or Mac present.
"Good Morning. I'm attaching you two as support for an op that's currently under way. You'll be going to Pula Croatia to assist in taking down a smuggling operation. Riley you'll assist in accessing their digital network. Bozer, take your prosthetics kit, because you'll need to make our operatives look like theirs to get past facial recognition protocols. While you'll both be in country, you are to only provide support for the field team and not actively engage in the take down." Matty explains.
"What about Mac and Jack?" Riley asks.
"They're not on this op. Jack has the flu so until he's recovered, Mac is pulling lab duty between nursing his partner back to health. Now, gather your supplies. You're wheels up in twenty." Matty instructs.
Meanwhile at Jack's apartment, Mac removes the thermometer from Jack's mouth stating, "100.6°, that's down from last night. Do you think you can eat anything? Oatmeal or applesauce maybe?"
Jack coughs harshly before replying, "No, just leave me alone, traitor."
Mac sighs, "Jack, I only went to Matty because I was really worried about you. If it was the wrong thing to do, I'm sorry. But I'm not going to leave you alone. Not until you're over this."
"If you'd kept you're mouth shut, we'd be in Croatia and have Bozer and Riley's backs," Jack grumbles.
"And you'd STILL have the flu. Besides, they only support personnel and aren't supposed to see any action." Mac returns.
"Yeah, and I can count on one hand the number of times things ACTUALLY happen like they're supposed to. You know if something happens to either of them, it's on you." Jack fires back before succumbing to another coughing fit.
"I'll be back with a Sprite, your meds, and a wet cloth. Then I've got to go into the lab for a bit. I'll be back around lunchtime though to check on you. I'll stop and pick up soup. Do you want Vegetable Beef or Chicken Tortilla?" Mac inquires.
"I doubt I'll be hungry. You can just go, I really can take care of myself." Jack huffs.
Mac takes in and lets out a steeling breath before replying, "I know that, but you don't need to. We're family and family takes care of each other. You taught me that."
As Mac gets up to retrieve the promised items, Jack can't help the smile that tugs at his lips, "Damn Mac, you make it impossible to be mad at you."
"Be right back." Mac smiles knowing that Jack has forgiven his transgression from the previous day.
Mac returns with the Sprite, DayQuil Flu, Oseltamivir, and the cold compress. Jack takes the meds and a few more sips of the Sprite before setting it on the nightstand. Mac then places the wet cloth on Jack's forehead.
"Do you need anything else before I go?" Mac asks.
"No, thanks bud." Jack replies.
"Alright, I'll see you in a few hours. Get some rest." Mac starts out the door.
"Chicken Tortilla," Jack mumbles.
"What?" Mac turns, having not caught what Jack said.
"If you bring Chicken Tortilla soup, I'll try to eat some," Jack promises.
"Good deal." Mac smiles and takes his leave.
Three days later, Jack has been fever-free for a full day but is still plagued by fatigue, sore muscles, sinus congestion, and a killer-headache. All of which as made him extremely crabby. Mac returns to the apartment, where he's been residing on the couch while Jack recovers, having finished the second half of his day in the lab.
"Hey Jack, thought you'd like to know that the Croatia mission is complete and the smuggling operation has been stopped. Riley and Bozer are both fine. They were in debrief when I left, but I ran into them in the hall and Riley plans to stop by on her way home." Mac greets.
"Good, that's good. Hey I took the last DayQuil a couple hours ago." Jack advises, sounding very stuffy.
"Alright, next time you're due it'll be late enough to take a NyQuil. I'll get some more DayQuil in the morning. I'm going to fix you some hot tea. It should help with the congestion." Mac replies heading to the kitchen.
"Ah Mac, you know I don't like to take NyQuil. It knocks me on my ass and I feel so foggy the next day." Jack complains.
Mac sighs deeply, growing a bit irritated with Jack's grouchiness. He puts the tea kettle on, setting Jack's favorite "World's Greatest Dad" mug on the counter next to it. A young Jack had made and given the mug to his dad; it's one of the few possessions Jack had left of his father's.
When Mac doesn't respond, Jack pushes a bit more, "Did you hear me, Mac?"
Between working, caring for Jack, and the lousy sleep Jack's sofa provides, Mac was beyond exhausted so he replies hastily, "Jack, could you just take the NyQuil this one time. I'm wiped out and just want to crash. Besides, it looks like it might rain. You know how bad LA traffic is when it actually rains."
"Fine." Jack concedes, sounding most unhappy about it.
There is a knock at the door and Jack gets up off the couch to answer it.
"Hey Jack, what are you doing out of bed?" Riley greets.
Jack rolls his eye, "I am capable of answering my own door. Besides, I'm over the worst of it."
"Uh huh, well you sound terrible." Riley returns.
"Gee, thanks." Jack huffs.
Mac is pouring the hot water into the mug, when the handle just gives out and the mug crashes to the tile and shatters. Mac grabs a roll of paper towels to sop up the mess as the noise brings Riley and Jack to the kitchen entrance.
"I'm so sorry Jack. I don't know what happened. One second I was pouring the water and the next second the mug was out of my hands and crashing to the floor." Mac quickly explains feeling horrible for destroying something that means so much to Jack.
Jack is about to explain that the handle was previously broken and glued back together, a couple of times actually, when Mac reaches up and sets the roll of paper towels on the stove from where he's knelt picking up the broken ceramic pieces. The paper towel roll connects with the burner and catches fire.
Jack rushes forward and grabs the burning roll, placing it in the sink and extinguishing with water before replying, "Damn Mac, are you trying to burn my place down."
The statement comes out harsher than he intended.
"No, of course not," Mac snaps, "Now would you get out of here before you step on…"
"…Oww. Damn it!" Jack exclaims having pick up a shard of the mug with his barefoot.
"Jack, are you ok?" Mac asks concerned.
Jack's irritability gets the better of him, "No, I'm not okay. I have the flu. My caretaker won't go to the store and get me some damn DayQuil, but he has no probably destroying my favorite mug, setting my kitchen on fire, and cutting my foot all to hell!"
"Come on Jack. Let's get to the bathroom and I'll take a look at that foot." Riley soothes, shooting Mac an annoyed look.
As Mac finishes cleaning up in the kitchen, Riley walks back in having finished bandaging Jack's foot.
Mac opens his mouth to ask about Jack's cut, but Riley speaks first, "Mac, I think you should leave. I'll stay and take care of Jack."
"Ri, I…" Mac begins.
"…Mac, just go." Riley insists.
"Fine, whatever." Mac storms out.
Shortly after getting behind the wheel, malaise hits Mac like a ton of bricks as he realizes he's contracted the flu too. He pulls into a drug store parking lot and proceeds inside to pick up some DayQuil. As much as it loathes him to admit, he shares Jack's feeling regarding taking NyQuil. Having purchased the pills and a water, he quickly takes a dose. He's about to head to the exit when two masked men enter, one of them waiving a gun.
"Alright, listen up. Everyone keep your hands up where we can see them. My partner here is going to help himself to your wallets, cellphones, and anything else that catches his fancy. Then one of you will volunteer to fill this here bag from the cash register while I hold a gun to the pretty cashiers head. So long as y'all cooperate completely, no one has to get hurt." The armed gunman explains while his partner begins searching customers.
He takes Mac's wallet and cellphone, then shoves him toward the register, "Go ahead and start filling that bag with cash. Remember, any funny business and that little lass over there will pay the price."
Mac obeys while his mind races for a solution, but his flu-fogged brain is unable to spy a save from his surroundings. Once he's finished the gunman ushers everyone to the back, "Alright, you are going to count to 1000 after we leave before anyone moves from back here."
Meanwhile, the other robber has switch off the lights and turned over the closed sign when sirens are heard and the men get spooked.
"Damnit, did one of you trigger a silent alarm?" The gunman asks waving the gun between Mac and the cashier who both vehemently shake their head in denial.
"We won't make it back to where the car is parked. Get the keys to the burgundy Jeep parked in front," The other robber orders.
"You heard my partner. If that's your vehicle hand over your keys nice and easy like." The gunman demands but when no one makes a move he cocks the weapon and presses it into the girl's temple and shouts, "NOW!"
Mac quickly albeit clumsily fishes out his keys.
The gunman snatches them out his hand before knocking Mac in the back of the head with the butt of the gun causing him to crumple to the ground, "Let that be a lesson to you kid. Remember, no one moves before 1000."
Mac ignores the other patrons counting in favor of trying to keep a reign on his nausea. Two and a half hours and one bout of vomiting later, the police are ready to release the scene having questioned all the witnesses and obtained the security footage. Mac is arguing with the paramedic regarding being transported to the hospital.
"Look, I don't feel well. It's probably the flu. I just want to go home and sleep." Mac bites out.
"Sir, I understand you're ill but it's possible some of your symptoms are the result of a concussion from that blow to the head. I really think you should let a doctor check you over. Besides, you said your other symptoms started today so if you do have the flu, they can give you something that'll lessen the duration and severity of it," the paramedic reasons.
"No. I'll go see my doctor in the morning. It's been a long day and I'm really not up for several more hours in an ER. Please." Mac practically whines.
"Alright, well, I need you to sign a refusal of transport." The paramedic sighs, clearly unhappy with her patient's decision.
After signing the requested document, Mac walks out the front door only to remember the robbers took his Jeep and he has no phone or money, 'Well, at least they didn't take my DayQuil,' he thinks and sets out on foot for Jack's apartment since it's only a couple of blocks away.
A steady mist of rain starts to fall, while not heavy, it thoroughly saturates Mac's clothing and soaks his hair. The rain stops about the time Mac arrives at Jack's building, but he starts up the fire escape not wanting to drip water through the hallway. Riley stirs awake at the light rapping from the door off the kitchen. She grabs a ball bat and goes to investigate.
Upon spying Mac, she lets out a breath and cracks open the door and harshly whispers, "Mac, what are you doing back here? If you've come to apologize, Jack is already asleep and I don't want to hear it."
"I… I uh… Could I come in?" Mac stutters caught off guard by Riley's hostility.
Riley snatches the pharmacy bag from Mac and curtly replies, "I'll see that he gets these. Go home, Mac," and with that she shuts the door.
Mac stumbles backward landing on his butt with a hiss as his tailbone reminds him that it doesn't appreciate the abuse. He leans back into the railing, draws his knees to his body, and lays his head on them, promptly giving into exhaustion. The misty rain picks back up a few hours later gently waking Mac. It takes him a good several minutes to get his bearings. He's chilled to his bones, completely devoid of energy, congested, dizzy, and beyond nauseous. Every muscle in his body is agonizingly sore and he has the mother of all headaches. Mac cautiously makes his way down the fire escape and half a block to the nearest open convenience store. The clerk warily eyes the disheveled man stumbling inside.
"May I use your phone? I just need to call a ride." Mac requests weakly.
Upon closer examination, the clerk decides the man appears less drunk and more exhausted, "Sure thing, as long as it's local."
Mac just nods noticing it's just past 2:00 in the morning. He sighs resolving not to drag Bozer out in the middle of the night. The clerk returns and hands Mac the cordless phone. Mac grateful accepts it and heads further into the store for a bit of privacy. He dials the secure Phoenix switchboard. Upon requesting non-emergency medical transport, his call is connected to Phoenix medical for authorization.
"Phoenix medical. Doc Pierce here."
"Hey Doc, you're working late tonight." Mac returns.
"MacGyver? What's going on? Is Jack okay?" Doc Pierce questions rapidly, recognizing the voice on the line and assuming something must be dire for Mac to be calling so late.
"Jack's fine, but I uh," Mac pauses briefly slightly embarrassed at his request before continuing, "I need non-emergent medical transport."
"What's the matter, Mac?" Doc Pierce asks gently.
"Probable flu and possible concussion." Mac admits succinctly before providing his location.
"Alright, I'll find the closest active personnel and send them to you. Stay put." Doc Pierce advises determine to send an ambulance anyway if there isn't someone within fifteen minutes of MacGyver's location.
The Doc input the search query and gets a ping ten minutes from Mac's current location. He picks up the phone and dials.
"Webber," Matty answers with a sigh, wanting nothing more than to crawl into bed having come from debriefing a team that just returned from Thailand.
"Director, I have a non-emergent medical transport request and you're the closest active personnel." Doc Pierce advises.
"Alright, send me the location." Matty agrees tiredly since she's really not far from Phoenix and gives her driver new coordinates.
Matty is shocked when she pulls up and spots a familiar figure slumped on a bench outside the store, shivers violently racking his body. She rolls down the window and calls his name to draw his attention. He looks up and slowly figures out she's his transport. He drags himself up and trudges toward the town car as she slides over so he can get in. She immediately places the back of her hand to his forehead.
"Geez Blondie, you're burning up. What's going on with you anyway?" Matty asks concerned.
Mac explains the flu bug hit on his way home and about stopping at the drug store including the robbery and being conked on the head with the gun. He leaves out his encounter with Riley and the nap on the fire escape.
"Alright. Let's get you to medical." Matty states allowing Mac to doze off.
Nearly an hour later, Matty catches Doc Pierce coming out of an examination room. He sighs wearily seeing her rapid approach.
"What's the word on my agent?" Matty demands.
"Well, he definitely has the flu and, judging by the knot on his head, also a grade 2 concussion. Neither of those alone would warrant admitting him, but together he's going to be in for a miserable couple of days. I'd rather he stay, but it's not medically necessary. I'm sure he'll request to go home as soon as he wakes."
"Don't worry. I'll see to it that he's taken care of." Matty promises.
"I'll prescribe some Oseltamivir and Ondansetron. He should also take some over the counter flu medication for symptom management. It's also important to make sure he stays hydrated, so plenty of fluids. Monitor the fever and makes sure he comes back in if it spikes above 103°." Doc explains.
"Will do." Matty assure.
"Alright, I'll get his discharge paperwork ready and have a nurse round up some dry sweats for him to wear home." Doc Pierces advises and heads off to do just that.
Matty is sitting at Mac's bedside when he awakes twenty minutes later, "Hey Blondie, how you feeling?"
"Pretty lousy. Do I have to stay here?" Mac asks weakly.
Matty fondly smiles, "No, your discharge orders have already been signed. I'll take you home as soon as your dressed," she explains indicating the sweats at the edge of the bed.
"Good deal. Thanks Matty." Mac returns.
Matty exits the room to allow Mac to get dressed. On the way home, Matty stops by a pharmacy and picks up the prescriptions as well as a combo pack of DayQuil and NyQuil Flu. Even though it's nearly 4:00 in the morning, she has Mac take a dose of NyQuil and each of the prescriptions. Mac is so out of it by the time the car stops, he doesn't register the driver helping him inside, much less the fact that it's not his house. With Mac settled in her guest room, Matty places a water on the nightstand and a small trash can near the bed. Then she decides to catch a few winks herself and heads across the hall to her own bedroom.
AN: Ha... I love it when a chapter just flows seamlessly out of my brain. Enjoy! Hopefully this quick turn around makes up for the long wait between chapter 5 and 6. Reviews appreciated.