I know it has taken me a long time to update and I am really sorry. Life right now is a bit crazy. However, I hope that you still enjoy the next installment.

"Well now," Jack said, a small malicious grin on his face, "now that you've told us, you can move on. We've got it from here."

"Not on your life," Sarah shot back. "I know that you're a Neanderthal, but you don't get to muscle in on my case. You can either back me up, it I will just go my own way and let you know when the case is resolved."

"And you've been so successful so far," Jack mocked. "You came here because you know you can't do it without us."

"Enough!" The word was more of a bark than an exclamation. Everybody looked around and located the speaker. MacGyver was on his feet, his face paler than before, lips pressed into a thin line and fists clenched as he tried to regain control.

"Brother," Jack started.

"No," Mac cut him off. "Not now. The only thing that's important now is to solve this. To find Nikki and to find out what she knows about this 'Organization'." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Somehow...some way, what happened to Cory is tied to The Organization. I am going to find out how and when I find who ordered Murdock to kill her..." Words failed him, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes.

"Mac," Jack said, reaching for his friend, but Mac shook him off.

"I'm OK," he said, not convincing anybody. "But I'll be better, when the Son of a Bitch responsible, is...is," Mac forced himself to regain control, "..when he...," another pause, "….or she...is put out of commission."

The team exchanged looks with each other and with Sarah; with no additional words, the decision had been made.

"Ok," Jack said. "What's the plan?"

Sarah, replied. "We are waiting to determine on where Nikki will be. We will intercept her there and take her in. Its just a matter of time; she'll soon. In the mean time, we are monitoring all known communications channels."

"And..," Mac promted.

"And…so far..nothing," Sarah was forced to admit.

"Then what…," Jack started to speak but was interrupted by the sound of the cell phone. Mac grabbed for it. Somehow, but the look on his face, the team knew that it was the hospital.

"This is MacGyver," he said. He listened to the speaker, nodded once…twice. "I understand," he said. "I will get there as soon as I can," he said.

"Mac?" Jack asked.

"I need to go to the hospital now," he said.

"What…," Bozer started to ask, fear and concern for his friend in his eyes and in his voice.

Mac permited himself a small, sad, tired smile. "It's a little good news for a change," he said. "They are taking the breathing tube out earlier than planned."

Mac and Jack drove the hospital. It was decided that Sarah would meet them there. Riley and Bozer would head off to Cory's apartment. Perhaps if they could find her laptop, Riley would be able to access it and maybe, if they were very lucky, it would point to who had wanted Cory out of the way.

The car had barely stopped before Mac had opened the door and dashed in. He practically ran by the nurses' station and into Cory's room. Staedler was on guard and he nodded at Mac. Jack was right behind his younger partner, and saw Mac's shoulders slump when he saw no changes in his sister.

"How is she?" Mac asked the doctor who had entered right behind the agents.

"Your sister is very strong," the doctor said. "I think that there is cause for optimism. I had not thought she would be ready to have the breathing tube removed so soon, but she is ready. I will do it now, if you would like to wait outside."

Mac had taken Cory's hand. "I was an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Technician in the Army. I served in Afghanistan. I think I can handle what you are about to do." Mac's blue eyes were hard and clear as he looked at the doctor. He never raised his voice and his inflection was unfailingly polite, but the doctor could not miss the steel behind the words. He nodded.

Jack and Staedler stood just outside. They could not see Cory and were gauging what was happening based on Mac's body language.

Mac watched as the doctor donned gloves. He continued to hold Cory's hand as the doctor reached for the breathing tube. He waited until he felt Cory exhale and pulled hard. Mac felt Cory's whole body tense. The tube came out and he heard her choke. He felt her body tense up as her lungs fought for oxygen. "Please, Cory," he begger her silently. "Please, breathe."

Suddenly, he heard her gasp. A huge breath alsmost like sob. Another one and then another one. She was breathing on her own. Mac had not realized it, but he too had been holding his breath. He let it out quietly and felt like his own heart started to beat again.

Jack too let out his breath in a loud "whoosh," when he saw Mac's shoulders relax.

The doctor, continued to check Cory's vital signs and when he was satisfied, placed an oxygen canula in her nose. Cory was breathing quietly and seemed to be at ease. "I've lowered her pain medication," the doctor spoke to Mac. "I want to ween her as quickly as possible and the less medication, the less chance there is that her breathing is compromised." Mac nodded, but did not seem to to understand the implication. The older man smiled. "She may be able to hear you now," he said gently. He rested a hand on Mac's shouldler momentarily and stepped out. Jack and Stedler remained outside to give Mac a moment of privacy.

Mac studied Cory. She was till pale, her dark eyelashes brushing her cheeks. He had heard what the doctor said, but search as he might, he saw no difference. "Cory," he whispered. "Cory," he said a little louder. "If you can hear me, I want you to know, that I will find who's responsible for this." He waited. He knew what he wanted to say; the words were reverberating inside his head, but he had always had difficulty with tellling people how he felt. Even now, even with Cory. Mac took a long, shaky breath. "I need you, Cory," he whispered. " Please come back to me. Please." He waited a minute, searching for a sign that she had heard him. "Please, Cory," he whispered, his voice now hoarse with emotion. "If you can hear me, please squeeze my hand…please Cory." Mac did not think she'd heard him after all. He continued to hold her hand. "Please," he whispered again, "Please." Suddenly he felt the slightest flutter of movement. He looked down and saw the fingers on the small pale hand he was holding, slightly twitch and then slowly…so very slowly, they wrapped around his larger calloused hand. Mac sat very still; if he was imagining everything he did not wish to wake up and if it was really happening, he did not want to do anything to disturb her.

Eventually, Mac heard a soft sigh. He looked down and at Cory and realized that she was sleeping; a normal, deep, healthy sleep. He gently brushed the hair from her forehead and placed a quick kiss on the top of her head. "I have some things to take care," he said quietly. "But I will come back. Soon. I will come back very soon."

With that, he turned and walked out where Jack and Staedler were waiting for him. He exchanged a nod with Staedler, who returned to the room. He realized that Jack was just hanging up his cell phone. "You OK," Jack asked. Mac nodded. It was not entirely the truth, but this was as good as it was going to be for the time being. Jack understood. "Good," he said. "That was Sarah. We now know where Nikki is headed. Ready to go to work, Buddy?" Again, Mac nodded.

"Let's do this," he said.

Now to find Nikki and see what insights the team can get from Project Ocelot. Please let me know what you think of this chapter. I am always grateful for your reviews and thoughts.