CH 94

MacGyver returned to Childers and helped clean up Jim's wound as Swiss gave the captain a status report on Jim. MacGyver massaged his temples and forehead when he came to moaning as he started coughing and groaning.

"Jim…" she spoke softly to him.

"My head is feeling like a jackhammer is in there."

"What happened?"

"Mears was on to me, we fought, and he went overboard."

"Who mears?"

"He's the fourth guy."

"We arrested three other men; there was no one else on board. We found stinger missiles and other weapons below decks."

"Mears was down below with a machine gun ready to take you all out. I managed to stop him. When I heard your voice, I grabbed the box and two fishing rods as a decoy."

"I knew there were more onboard and by the eyes and finger signals you were giving me. I knew it wasn't good. Why were you there?"

"Posing as an arms dealer."

"You were working with Madeline Cruise?"

"Yeah…one of her missions."

"Okay… arms dealer?"

"What you saw was samples. Mears is the go-between. I was setting up a deal with terrorists. If they don't buy from me, it will be from someone else." He closes his eyes as he breathes in and out. "Your massages are helping."

"You know I've got great hands," said with a smile.

"Yeah, you do." He opened his eye again and smiled at her.

She stopped her ministrations. "Hey, why did you stop?"

MacGyver went over to the phone and called the captain.

"Sir, it's MacGyver, Jim's awake. He told me that the man he was fighting went overboard… how long?… thank you, Sir." Turning back to Jim, "This man, is he dangerous?"

"Yes, very."

"Sir, Jim said the man is dangerous… thank you, Sir." She hung up and went over to the med draws and got a couple panadol out and a bottle of water from the fridge and gave it to Jim. He managed to sit up and take them, then passed the bottle back and laid back down.

"Commander White is crash sailing Hammersley with Childer's chef on board. They will be here in eight hours sailing at the top of the green."

"Okay, message, please," Jim asked her; she smiled.

"Okay, for fifteen minutes, then you get some rest while I'll get dinner on."

"Okay. " She went back to massaging Jim's head. Swiss walked into the room.

"How is he doing?"

"Beside jackhammer and concussion, he should be fine in a few days."

"Good to hear. What are you doing?"

"Massaging his temple and forehead, he finds it relaxing and helps relieve stress and tone down the jackhammer."

Swiss laughs. "That's a new one; it looks like it's working."

The next morning when MacGyver went to throw gash overboard, she smiled when she saw Hammersley close by. Then she turned to throw the gash and saw someone in the water. There were crew members on the back of Hammersley, so she put the bucket down, removed her boots, shirt and hat. She whistled to the crew. Hearing her, they gave a wave. Pointing at what was in the water, she removed the safety chain, went down the step, dove in, and swam over to the person.

One of the crew members on Hammersley ran to raise the alarm while the other kept watch. MacGyver checked the guy for a pulse when she saw his neck. She gave two waves to the crew members onboard Hammersly indicating that the person was dead.

Taking the body with her, she swam back to Childers. As she reached the back of the ship, several crew members ran down the steps to help her with the body. Passing the body to them, they pulled the dead man's body from the water and took it up the steps to the back of the ship. Several more of the crew, including Jim, arrived on deck as MacGyver got out of the water.

"Jim is this him. The other guy from the boat."

"No, it's not Mears, but he did this to this fisherman. He most probably saw you pick him up, and this is that thanks for saving the guy's life."

"Let Mike know."

"Yea, I will."

"Banjo, was there anything on radar overnight besides Hammersley?"

"An FFV, but it was on the edge of our screen at about seven last night. The captain is aware."

"Which was it heading?"

"North."

"He is heading to a foreign port," Jim said.

"Sir, I'm going to shower and change then Jim and will head over to Hammersley. We can head north, and hopefully, we can catch the boat before he reaches a foreign port."

"Okay, I'll let Mike know."

"Thank you, Sir." She turned to Jim. "I'll get your bag and meet you on the HRIB."

"I'll get it."

"Jim, you're unsteady on your feet. Don't argue with me on this one; you know I'm right."

"Just this once," he winked.

"I've heard that before," she saw him grin at her when she picked up her boots and jacket then walked towards the hatch.

Half an hour later, Hammersley was heading north. They were happy to have MacGyver back.

MacGyver helped Jim to the wardroom and made him lie down; he almost collapsed on the boat deck.

Then she reported to Mike, Kate, Dutchy, and Swain about what had happened on the fishing boat, including what Jim had told her.

"Good news, we can dock at Kalewan's port, but only as a visit. Madeline Cruise will be there this afternoon and will be staying at a hotel."

"Thanks, Mike," Jim said.

"How did she sound when you spoke to her?"

"Maxine spoke with her; she's not happy with us."

"You? It's not Hammersley's fault. That's all on Childer's bloody XO and a couple of sailors' fault. If they kept their mouths shut, then this wouldn't have happened." MacGyver added.

"I don't know how this Mears knew. We didn't know till you told us."

"Well, let's get to Kalewan port and take it from there, Sir. In the meantime, I'll go help Bird with breakfast." Turning to Jim, "you stay and rest."

"Breakfast?"

"I'll bring you something."

"Thanks, June" he gave her hand a squeeze before closing his eyes. They all left the room to talk.

"Can he carry on with his mission?" Mike asked.

"We had better have a backup plan just in case, Sir."

"Alright."

At that, MacGyver left for the galley to help with breakfast. Bird and MacGyver talked and listened to music while they worked.

Hammersley docks a few hours later and they notice on the radar that the FFV they are after is also docked nearby.

Jim walked out onto the back of the boat and headed to the gangway. "Where do you think you're going?" MacGyver asks.

He stops and turns to June, who's walking over to him.

"I'm going to see the FFV we are after; come with me?"

"I'll talk to the captain first, so stay here till I return."

"Alright, I'll be right here."

"Sir," MacGyver says to Mike as she approaches.

"MacGyver…"

"Jim wants to go and check out the FFV, permission to go with him to keep him out of trouble."

Mike smiled at Jim's stubbornness. Just then, Dutchy showed up.

"Okay, take Dutchy with you."

"What's going on?" Dutch asks.

"Jim wants to check out the FFV," Mike replied. "I want you to go with."

"Okay."

"You both go but get changed first."

"Thanks, Sir."

Ten minutes later, the three walk along the wharf away from Hammersley with Jim and June's arms around each other and wearing their wedding rings. They hired a small boat to get to where the FFV is docked.

When they saw it, they boarded the boat. "This is the one," MacGyver said, pointing to where the blood is on the deck.

"That must have been where Mears killed the skipper," Jim said as his legs gave way and he collapsed. Running to him, MacGyver crouched near him.

"Jim!"

"Sorry, June, I had to know."

Frowning, "let's get you back to Hammersley. Dutchy help me with Jim."

"He'll be looking for a computer; there is a website. You'll need a password to access the message board."

"Good luck in finding one in this place," Dutchy said as they got back in the rented boat. Dutchy drove back to Hammersley, stopping at the back of the ship.

"I'll take care of the boat and start looking for Mears."

"Thanks, Dutchy, keep in contact."

MacGyver helped Jim up the steps and onto the deck while Dutchy returned the boat to its owner. Then he went looking for Mears.

As soon as Jim entered the wardroom, he sat in a chair and held his head.

"How are you feeling?" June asked.

"Head's spinning."

June checked his head wound. "I'll be fine after a cuppa," he held onto her hand, looking at her.

"I'll give you something for your head now, then I'll get you a cuppa. "

"Okay," she got him a couple of panadol and water. Once he took them, she took his blood pressure and checked his pupils to see if they were sluggish.

"Eyes are normal, but your blood pressure is slightly up."

"That's good news, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is." Then she made him a cup of tea and passed it to him.

"Thanks, Hun," sipping his tea.

"You know, we haven't had my famous chocolate mousse for a while now."

"The one with the dark chocolate shavings in it?"

"Yeah, we should have some when we return home and have a barbeque before the rainy season starts."

Wrapping his free arm around her waist, he pulled her towards him. "Sounds like you're planning on doing a dinner when we get home."

"Of course."

"Sounds wonderful."

She bent over and gave him a kiss. "Now drink your tea; you haven't had much to drink over the past couple of days."

"Okay, dear," he said, grinning at her.

Dutchy walked around the port and then into a flash hotel, where he asked the reception clerk if the hotel had internet access.

"Sorry, Sir, the government promised it months ago but hasn't yet installed it."

"I've got a sat phone if you want to call your girlfriend." Madeline Cruise approached him while he was talking to the hotel worker.

"It's not that important and no girlfriend," the worker answered.

"Great care to join me for a drink? Vodka straight up?"

"Beer, thanks, mate." Dutchy followed Madeline to a spot where they could talk privately with drinks in hand. He passed her her drink before sitting down, getting his phone out to text MacGyver where he was and that he was talking to Madeline.

"What are you doing here?" she asked quietly.

"Mears is here."

"You screwed up the operation," Madeline Cruise growled.

"No, not me, and not Hammersley," Dutchy responded.

"Commander White told me that Hammersley was heading to the boat that Captain Roth was on."

"She was wrong; it was Childers that boarded that boat. MacGyver was on Childers as a temporary chef and second medic when they boarded the boat. The boat's transponder wasn't working, and they had to investigate that.

MacGyver recognized Jim as one of the men on board."

"So… what? She blew his cover?! Wait till I have words with Fleet Command about this."

"Hang on now! She didn't blow his cover. In fact, she tried to save his cover. It was the XO and two junior sailors that were at fault. The two sailors opened their big mouths and told MacGyver she didn't recognize her own husband. MacGyver denied his being her husband and that they needed to have their eyes examined. Jim added that he was single and that it's not the first time he's been mistaken for someone else.

The XO didn't do a thing about what happened. MacGyver had words with him and reported the incident to the captain.

Childers followed and kept a safe distance while watching them on the EOD. They saw when everything went to hell. Childers went in to arrest the three men. Jim was injured and evacuated to Childers wardroom. While in the wardroom, MacGyver asked the captain to get Hammersley to rendezvous with them. Also, to mention Jim's name. Hammersley was in home port and wasn't due to leave till tomorrow when we got the crash sail message."

"Well then, I want to know the two sailors' names."

"Ask MacGyver. She already punished them by having them scrub the ovens with a toothbrush and then the wall torcher. They hated it. As for the XO, he will face Commander White when he returns. MacGyver already had words with him with the captain present."

"What about Mears?"

"He was fighting Jim when he went overboard. He was picked up by a fisherman, and then Mears slit his throat and tossed him overboard.

MacGyver saw a man in the water; it was the skipper's body. After that, we got clearance to follow Mears here.

Jim, MacGyver, and I rented a boat and went looking for the FFV. We found it, and there was blood still on the boat deck.

Jim collapsed, so I took him and MacGyver back to Hammersley. Then I started looking for someone who had a computer because Jim had said something about a website.

"Mear's is the middle man. He's the main man I'm after. Thank you for telling me all of this." Madeline stood up, picked up her bags, and walked away.

Dutchy sat there thinking, then he walked out of the hotel fifteen minutes later when he saw Mears just as MacGyver showed up.

"Dutchy…."

"Mears is here," Dutchy told her. MacGyver and Dutchy followed Mears. They saw him break into a room and watch him using a computer.

Dutchy went to step forward when Macgyver stopped him. They watched Mears go into another room. Then they heard a noise. Rushing in Dutchy and MacGyver saw Mears attack Madeline Cruise. Dutchy went after Mears while Macgyver went to check on Madeline.

Mears shoved Dutchy, causing him to hit his head. He was knocked out. Then Mears went after MacGyver. She was able to knock him out. After securing him, she went to check on Dutchy. He was coming to.

"Dutchy…."

"Mears?"

"Knocked out."

"Good." MacGyver helped him up as she saw Madeline with a gun in hand.

"Now that we've got Mears, we don't know if he had contacted the terrorists."

"He was doing something on your laptop when we caught up to him… you should check it out," MacGyver suggested.

MacGyver went and got the laptop and brought it back into the bedroom and put it on the drawers.

"Look at this… he's still logged in and had sent a message… waiting for a reply."

"This is great," Dutchy said.