I wanted to post another chapter as sort of an apology for the mess up earlier today. This is not a fast moving chapter (sorry), but provides informaiton and sets up the next part of the story. I hope that you enjoy.
Mac tried to sit still and wait for the security detail to arrive, but found that all he could do was continue to pace. He knew that he needed to focus; knew that he needed to push his emotions aside and concentrate on the problem. Unfortunately, he was too tired, too worried and too angry.
Jack watched his young partner with mounting concern. He understood only too well, how Mac was feeling. With his sister in critical condition and apparently under continued threat and with the lies that Nikki had told him...Jack was sure they were lies...still rattling around in his brain, his friend was having a hard time bringing his laser focus to bear. "Guess what, Jack," Jack told himself, "Mac is human too...who'da thunk?" Shaking his head to clear it, he stood up and went to Mac. Mac was so deep in his own world, that he almost ran into Jack. "Whoa," Jack said as he put his hands on his friend's shoulders. "This is not helping anybody. We need you and your big brain in peak condition and as you are now, you are no good to us or...," Jack hesitated, hating what he was about to say,"...or to Cory." Mac looked as if he had just been slapped and Jack felt a stab of guild along with a sense of satisfaction. Good. At least he had gotten Mac's attention.
More gently now, and still not releasing Mac's shoulders, Jack continued to speak. "You are emotional, you are exhausted...when did you last sleep?" Mac shrugged. "When did you eat last?" Again Mac shrugged. He knew that it must have been over twenty four hours. That realization made him realize that he was hungry." A small, sheepish smile crossed his face.
"Now that you mention it, Jack...I am hungry and," he looked around, "I think you all must be too." There were emphatic nods all around.
_The meal at the hospital cafeteria was companionable, but quiet. It seemed strange to Mac to be back there again and he could not help, but to keep looking around for Nikki. Jack and Bozer tried to engage Mac in conversation, but quickly gave up; Mac sat at the table, mechanically eating the burger he had ordered, still deep in thought. Jack kept a close eye on his friend, looking for any signs that he should be concerned about.
Twenty minutes later, Jack's cell phone buzzed. He looked down, "They're here," he announced. The team stood up from the table.
"Can you give me a few minutes," Mac asked. "I just want to check...,"
"Yeah, sure, Buddy," Jack said. "Do what you need to do."
Mac stopped off in the ICU and checked in with the doctor. Cory was doing as well as could be expected and there did not appear to be any effects from the tainted IV. The drugs were sent to the lab, but it would take time to identify what had been injected into the IV bag.
Mac wanted to spend time with Cory, but the nurses were in the room changing bandages and cleaning her. Mac stood for a moment in the doorway and turned to head toward the waiting room.
_Mac saw Jack in deep conversation with two other men that could have been his brothers. Jack recognized the two men from his time with Jack's Delta Force team in Afghanistan; the dark haired man was Bill Perkins and the grizzled blond was John Staedler. All three men turned to look at Mac.
The memories flooded back rocking Mac on his heels. All at once he was back in the desert, he felt the stultifying heat, heard the rattle of automatic gunfire. Saw the patrol pinned down by enemy gunfire, unable to move because they had stepped into the middle of a minefield. Mac knew what needed to be done. Making himself as small a target as possible, he crawled toward the men...
"Mac," the voice pulled Mac from his reverie and he looked up into Bill Perkins's eyes. "Its good to see you again, Mac," the man said, his voice suprisingly soft coming from such a large man. "Its been a long time." He extended his hand.
"Yes, it has been," Mac said taking the hand and shaking it. A moment passed and Perkins pulled Mac into an embrace that Mac returned; they were tied by blood, they were brothers, connected by history and memories few could understand.
"Hey man," Staedler approached and he and Mac embraced as well. "Jack just finished briefing us...I...we...are real sorry about...what's happened" Mac nodded. "Triad Security - Bill and I and our team, will make sure that she is safe. 24/7...as long as you need."
"Thank you," Mac said, "Just let me know how much..."
"Hold up, Mac," Perkins interrupted. "There is no charge for this. We owe you, man,….more than we can ever repay. If we can help you and...and...Cory, in any way, it's the least we can do...it could never be enough, but its something."
Mac was stunned and moved by the words. "You owe me nothing," he said quietly. A brief pause and a deep breath, Mac's voice shook every so slightly as he simply said, "Thank you."
The moment passed and the men became business like. "How about you brief us and take us back to see the location so that we can put the right security in place.
In the end, the plan was simple; somebody would be with Cory in the room at all times. When the nurses and doctors came in, they would wait by the door to allow her privacy. The security team would be armed both with a gun as well as something like a baton in case the oxygen was on in the room and the risk of an explosion was too high. "Simple but effective," Jack said approvingly.
With Perkins, who volunteered to take the first watch, waiting discreetly outside, Mac sat with Cory. Jack looked through the windows and his heart lurched as he saw the lines of exhaustion and distress on his friends face. "Whatever it takes, Brother," he swore. "Whatever it takes...we'll get to the bottom of this."
Mac did not want to leave Cory. Not even with the substantial bulk of Bill Perkins standing guard, but Jack and Bozer persuaded him. More to the point, Mac had to admit to himself that he was willing to be persuaded and the idea of a hot shower and a few hours of sleep in his own bed overwhelmingly appealing. He forced himself to walk to the car and to stay awake through the drive to his house.
Once home, Mac went directly to the shower. Stepping in and turning the water as hot as it would go, he stood under the stream until the water started to cool off. Slipping into sweats, Mac stumbled into his bedroom and literally collapsed into bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
The house quieted and the lights went out within an hour of the team being home. Bozer was asleep on the couch in the living room as he had sent Riley to sleep in his bedroom. One light remained on in the living room as Jack, pot of coffee on the table by his side, kept vigil over his partner and his friends.
_Mac woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon. Mac lay still for a few minutes savoring the familiar smells. That is until the memories of the day before came crashing down. Stifling a grown, Mac sat up in bed; he was going to have to face the day. He washed and dressed quickly and walked out into the living room where the rest of the team was already waiting.
"Hey Mac," Bozer said, bringing his friend a mug of coffee. "How are you feeling?"
Mac took stock, "Better – I think...," a pause. "What time is it."
"It is ten am," Jack booked as he walked in, pocketing his phone. "I just checked in with Staedler who has been at the hospital with Cory since six am. At the inquiring look from Mac, Jack reassured his friend, "She's safe. Everything was quiet since we left last night. You can call for an update on Cory, but Staedler wanted me to tell you that everything is OK."
Feeling more awake as the caffeine hit his system, Mac nodded.
"What's the plan," Riley asked as she finished her eggs. "What are we telling...or more importantly...not telling Thornton."
"Hmm...," was Jack's contribution to the discussion as Mac reached for more coffee willing the dark, sweet liquid to provide answers." The doorbell interrupted his ruminations.
Jack signaled Mac to get the door while he stood behind it with his gun drawn, not willing to take any chances. Mac opened the door and smiled, "Sarah," he said.
"Hi Mac," the CIA agent replied softly. "We need to talk."
Please let me know what you think. Thank you in advance for reading and reviewing this chapter.