I am so sorry. It has just been brought to my attention that the wrong chapter was posted. This is the correct continuation of the story. Again my apologies and many thanks to the Confused Guest who called it our. I am sorry for the delay. Life has a way of getting in the way of important things like writing fanficiton. i hope that you like this chapter.

Mac stalked down the hospital corridor, away from the cafeteria. His brain was still roiling with rage and tension that kept his hands clenched into fists and his stomach tied up in knots so tight that it felt like he could not take a deep breath. Nikki was lying. She had to be lying. That is what she did...always. The thoughts, like a mantra were running through Mac's head.

Nikki was responsible for what happened to Cory, of that Mac was certain. She had Cory's blood on her hands, sure as if she had pulled the trigger herself. Who else would have hired the hitman? Who else hated him enough to hurt him this badly? Mac tried to breathe and calm his thoughts; to try and make some sense out of everything that had been happening over the last two days. As he finally felt more calm, he sensed that there was a very small, quiet voice was nudging at the back of his brain. "What if," it said. What if what Nikki said was even partially true? What if somebody else was after him and Cory? "What was this conspiracy to which Nikki had alluded," the voice wondered. What was Project Ocelot and what did it have to do with his sister? There were so many questions and no answers to any of them. Mac hissed in frustration and shook his head, trying to clear it. He needed to talk to Jack, Riley and Bozer.

Mac found himself back in ICU and in front of Cory's room; subconsciously, his feet had carried him back to his sister. He decided that he would check on her before heading back to his team. He opened the door and froze.

"What the hell?" The question was out of his mouth before he had a chance to think. A nurse…at least he had initially thought it was a nurse, was injecting something into Cory's IV. He heard Mac, tuned around, his task completed. Mac was momentarily torn between stopping the intruder and rushing to ensure that Cory was safe. Making up his mind within a few seconds, Mac rushed to his sister's bedside permitting the man to escape through the open door and into the busy hospital. Mac turned off the IV. He checked Cory pulse and breathed a sign of relief when he saw that she was no worse than she was when he had left her.

Knowing it was futile, Mac still ran to the door and into the hallway, hoping against hope to see the man who had been in the room; the intruder was long gone. He stopped by the nurse's station to tell them what had happened and the nurses hurried to replace the medication and insure that their charge was well. Mac watched for a few more minutes to make sure that Cory was alright, he took a moment to gently squeeze her hand and brush the hair off her forehead. "I'll be back soon, I promise" he whispered and walked out to join the team.

Jack, Riley and Bozer were still in the waiting room. It had seemed to Mac that days had passed, but he knew that it had barely been two hours since he left the team to meet with Nikki. As concisely as he could, Mac recounted his meeting with Nikki, ending with his encounter in Cory's room.

"Son of a bitch," Jack swore after Mac had briefed them.

"Whatever is going on, she's not safe here, Jack," Mac said. "I'm beginning to think that she's not going to be safe anywhere." Mac's lips were pressed together in frustration and he paced around the small waiting room.

"I got an idea," Jack said reaching for his phone. He dialed and spoke quickly. "Perkins? It's Dalton. Yeah, Buddy. Good to hear your voice too. I got a favor ask. I need security. 24/7 for the next…," he paused. "Truth is, I don't know for how long." He listened for a minute. "Perk…its for MacGyver," he said quietly. Another minute passed. "Thanks man. I really appreciate it and I know that Mac will too." At the questioning look from Mac, he smiled slightly. "Remember Bill Perkins? Mac nodded. Him, Rick Alden, and John Staedler, started a private security firm after then retired from Delta. They are the best in the business and they and their team will guard Cory 24/7 until we resolve this." Jack saw Mac about to protest and became serious, his eyes boring into those of the younger man. "They haven't forgotten what you did for them in Afghanistan and neither have I. They owe you Mac. They got your back on this one. Cory couldn't be in safer hands." Mac nodded. He was more grateful than he could say.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"OK," Jack said, uncomfortable with the emotion he saw in his friend's eyes, "what's next."

Mac took a deep breath, trying to focus his thoughts. "Nikki said that it wasn't her or her people that did this. She said that…," Mac took a breath, "….that there were people close to me…to us…in positions of power and influence. Nikki said they don't want to be interfered with." He blew out a breath in frustration, the rage coming back. "I don't understand it..any of it"

Bozer was nodding. "So if they acted, then something that you are doing is going to affect them. The question is what that it is. What could be so important that they would hire an assasin?" The question hung in the air since nobody had an answer.

Riley spoke up, "I know that this isn't going to be popular question," she looked apologetically at Mac, "but why does it have to be something that Mac is doing?" When she was met with questioning stares, she took a breath and continued, "Is it possible that it was something Cory was doing with the CIA, that got their attention?"

Mac was nodding. Riley was making sense although he really hated where those thoughts were leading him. "Nikki also mentioned one other thing", he said, looking around. "Something that she called 'Project Ocelot'. She said that if we figure out what that is, we'll have answers." He had stopped pacing and was looking at all three of his friends. "Please," he whispered. "I need your help. I need you. All of you," as he scanned all three faces.

Jack took it upon himself to speak for the others although he could tell by the looks on their faces he was echoing their thoughts. "Whatever you need Mac. We're here." Jack looked at Bozer and Riley who both nodded back. "We'll go back to Phoenix…"

"No!" Mac was not sure where that came from, but he was suddenly certain that Pheonix was the last place that he wanted to be right now. Something in what Nikki had said must have resonated with him, he thought resentfully; he hated that anything that he would give credence to anything that Nikki had said, but he was determined to not involve The Foundation. This would be between him and his friends only. Somehow that realization made Mac feel slightly better.

I hope that you liked this and that this made sense. Who is trying to hurt Cory and what is Project Ocelot? I hope that I have intrigued you an I will work to provide answers over the next couple of chapters. Please let me know what you think. Thank you as always for reading and reviewing.