CH 12

"What she is doing is suicide," the lieutenant said.

"Yeah, I know, come on we need to get going." They carry the wounded to the ute while MacGyver headed to the camp.

When she got there she looked around and saw men everywhere. Working her way around to where the crates are, she checks the top one and sees an RPG, she took it out and put the bomb in its place. Then she filled the bag up with water until it was heavier than the grenades.

She put this over a pack of sticks and watched as the water leaked from the bag. Lastly, she put the lid back on top leaving a gap because of the string. Grabbing up the RPG she managed to return to the bushes without being noticed and works her way back to the ute. On her way, she stumbled upon another cache of crates hidden under camouflage netting.

Moving to a safe distance she waited when there was a massive explosion. Just after the explosion she fired onto the crates using the RPG, dropped it and then and ran as fast as she could.

When the men reach the ute Jim came to.

"Mike?"

"Jim we're getting you out of here."

"My men?"

"Sorry, one didn't make it."

"Damn it! The mission failed!" then they heard a loud explosion and then another one.

"Mission accomplished," said Spider.

"Why? How?"

"MacGyver."

"What? She went in by herself?" he said sitting up holding his head.

"Yeah, it is going to be one hell of a report she is going to have to write up."

"I'll say. Why aren't we leaving?"

"She said to give her ten minutes"

"She's crazy! We are sitting ducks here."

"She knows what she is doing." Hearing noise coming from the woods they raise their guns to the ready when they see MacGyver running towards them, throwing her backpack at Mike.

"Hang on everyone!" she yelled out as she got into the driver's seat while everyone else got in.

"Hang on, she's one crazy driver." Spider said.

Then the engine started up and spinning the wheels, "Hang on" MacGyver yelled out then she swung the ute around as it stopped.

Everyone was hanging on to each other until they reached their destination.

Then they all got out and helped the wounded. MacGyver helped Mike with Jim when they started taking mortar fire. They were almost hit twice as they were running to the RHIBS and then the ute was hit behind them and it blew causing all three of them to fly forward and land on the stone beach. Everyone was shocked and both RHIB's returned to pick them up and then headed towards Hammersley.

Once they were on board everything went crazy. Swain and Nav helped the three wounded. They were concerned about all three of them. When Steve Marshall found out from Kate what had happened, he made her acting Captain and he arranged for them to rendezvous with Melbourne. As soon as Steve finished with Kate on the phone he contacted Melbourne to let them know about the three wounded. The doctor on board contacted Swain straight away. Steve contacted Fleet Command about the situation.

Swain and Nav work with MacGyver the most since she was the worst of the three casualties because of the hit of shrapnel she took in the back of her leg. Once Swain got her stable he checked on Mike and Jim. "How are they

Swain?" Nav asked as she put all the soaked bandages and gauze in a bag using gloves

"Mike looks like he's got a head wound, broken collarbone and dislocated shoulder which I've got to get back into its socket. As for Jim, he's got a big bump on the back of his head."

"Hopefully he's got a hard head," Nav said with a grin.

"He already had a concussion added with this hit, it's not good" Then he went and got what he needed then he popped Mike's shoulder into place with a pop. Nav heard it and it made her cringe. Swain, then he put Mikes arm in a sling then sorted out an IV. Everything done, he and Nav cleaned up.

Kate walked in, "how are they, Swain?"

"Jim, he might have a serious concussion, Captain has a head wound, broken collarbone and dislocated shoulder which I managed to set."

"Ok, and MacGyver?"

"Shrapnel embedded in the back of the leg, the doctor said to keep it in, it could be plugging the artery like a cork and she's on antibiotics to stop any infection setting in since it the same leg from last time."

"Ok, thanks for the update, Swain."

"Don't worry Ma'am, I'm sure they are going to be ok."

"I hope so too."

Buffer was in the wardroom when Jim came to and slowly sat up. Buffer called Swain to the wardroom.

"Hey, you need to sit there. You got a quite a bump on the back of your head"

"What happened?"

"The ute was hit with a mortar and exploded, you, Captain and MacGyver were caught in the blast, you were all thrown onto the beach some five to ten meters."

"June?" Jim looked over at her pale face just as Swain walked in.

"I'm pleased you're awake."

"June, how is she?"

"I'm not going to lie, she's in a bad way."

"How bad?"

"She got a piece of shrapnel embedded in the back of her leg in a dangerous spot."

"Can you get it out?"

"The doctor told me not to because it's partly embedded in her artery and close to nerves and tendons." He stood up then fell back on the bed couch.

"Woah, take it easy," Swain got a chair and put it close to the gurney then he checked Jim's eyes.

"They are a bit sluggish. You will need to have a CAT scan when you return to Cairns, I'm concerned about your head wound."

"I'll be fine." Swain helped him to stand and step forward to sit down on the chair.

"I'll leave you alone if you need anything ask Buffer."

"Got any panadol?"

"Sure." Swain got him a couple of panadol and a small bottle of water.

"Thanks" he took them and then looked over to Mike.

"How is he?"

"Broken collarbone, a dislocated shoulder and a head wound."

"Thanks, Mate, for everything."

"If you need to lie down get Buffer to help you."

"Thanks."

Three hours later Mike, MacGyver and Jim were all carried out on stretchers, Jim had collapsed just as Hammersley stopped close to Melbourne. With there being three stretchers, both RHIBS were used. The SAS was also going as well as the body of their fallen comrade. Hammersley set sail for home port with Kate as acting Captain.

When Hammersley docked everyone carried on working until everything is done before leaving for their shore leave. Kate was on the side deck when Steve walked over to her.

"How are you doing Kate"?

"Good Sir, any word on captain Roth, MacGyver and Mike, Sir?"

"Captain Roth has a concussion and will be staying in hospital for a few days. Leader McGinnis is in a serious but stable condition. They remove the piece of shrapnel but now the next twenty- four, forty- eight hours are crucial and as for her leg wound, it is difficult to know if she will ever have full use of it again."

"She would be devastated if she has to leave the Navy on medical grounds."

"It would for anyone."

"And how is Lieutenant Commander Flynn?"

"He has a broken collarbone and some swelling on the brain caused by the head injury, Kate, I'm sorry to tell you this, but Mike's in a coma."

Tears started to well up in her eyes, "what are his chances? Do the doctors know?"

"They are doing the best they can for him, with the right medication and once the swelling is down he will have more of a chance of coming out of the coma."

"In other words, Sir, it's a waiting game."

"Yes."

"So, for now, Hammersley is a ship stopper."

"Yes, the other captains have been informed and they all send their best wishes to Mike and Leader McGinnis."

"They, we, are all going to need it, Sir."

"I know."

An hour later Kate looked in on MacGyver and saw tubes everywhere. She stayed for a few minutes then walked next door into Mike's room where she stayed until visiting hours were over.

Four days later, Jim was sitting next to MacGyver's bed typing up his report about what happened on the last mission. He'd just sent it by email before closing down and putting his laptop on the table as there were flowers on the bedside cabinet. He looked over when she started to wake up.

He held onto her hand, "June..."

"Jim," she said trying to lick her lips as her mouth was dry.

Knowing what it feels like he pours some water in a cup and added a straw then brought it to her lips. When she saw what he was doing she remembered to take small sips and move the straw out of her mouth with her tongue.

"Hey, are you in any pain" he put the drink back on the draws then turned back to her.

"Yeah, my head, back and my leg. What happened?" Jim press the call buzzer.

"The ute was hit by a mortar and exploded and we were thrown to the beach. You had a piece of shrapnel embedded in the back of your leg."

"Same leg?"

"Yeah, it nicked an artery. Swain had to leave it there until you got to the hospital. I was keeping the artery from bleeding."

"Like a cork."

"Something like that."

"How are you?"

"They're keeping me in for a few days. I had a double concussion and collapsing and hitting my head again didn't help."

"At least you are ok."

"And you will be too."

"Yeah, Mike, how's Mike?" she remembered that Mike had been on the other side of Jim when it happened.

"He's in a coma, June. He's got a broken collarbone and dislocated shoulder that Swain popped back in."

"Serious head wound?"

"Swelling on the brain, that was the first scan showed and from what I've been told the swelling has gone down."

"That's good news. Have you spoken to Kate?"

"Yes, she told me what was happening." Then the door opened and a doctor and nurse walked in.

"I'll wait outside," Jim said standing up and kissing her before walking outside and letting out his breath.

He walked next door and looked into Mike's room when he heard...

"Excuse me..."

Turning to the man, "sorry?"

The unknown man looked into Mike's room. "How's Mike doing?"

"Are you a reporter?"

"No, Ray Walsmen."

Jim remembers Mike and June talking about Ray Walsmen and how they both think he that he is somehow linked to what was going on, on Samaru Island.

"Hi, as for Mike, it's not good news."

"Oh, how bad is he?"

"He's in a coma, the doctors don't know if he is going to make it." Then he turned and walked back down to June's room. He was looking through the door when Ray walked over to him and look through the window.

"I know her, she works on Hammersley"

"She does. Leader June McGinnis, MacGyver her crewmates call her."

"You are?"

"Her boyfriend and a friend of Mike Flynn."

"Right, what happened to her?"

"She and Mike were injured when a mortar hit a ute that they were near causing them to be blown onto a stone beach. June was in serious condition when taken aboard Hammersley, shrapnel from the ute embedded in the back of her leg and nicking an artery. The surgeons removed it and repaired the damaged artery but they still don't know if there is any nerve or tendon damage. That would mean the end of her Navy career."

"How would you cope if that happens?"

"I know that June wouldn't handle it well. She loves what she is doing and I support her and it makes her happy."

"What about you? What do you do?" then the doctor and nurse leave her room.

"Is everything ok, Doctor?"

"She knows she will be in pain for a few more days."

"And her leg?"

"I'll check on it in a few days. At the moment there is too much swelling in the area, it's going to take time to go down."

"Thank you, doctor."

"She's asking for you."

"Thank you, if you will excuse me," he walked in and over to her bed. She's sitting upright with her leg elevated. He sat on the bed.

"June," she saw Ray was looking at her and she started to cry so he hugged her.