A/N: Many thanks to those of you that took the time to review. It means a lot to me. Special thanks to Dlwells.
When all was said and done, it took a sedative to convince Mac to spend the day in the infirmary. Jack knew he'd be paying for that later. The Delta dragged a hand down his face and released a loud sigh as his gaze drifted to the younger man. Mac was wearing the oxygen mask and the IV line had been reattached. Jack sighed, he was beyond exhausted. He knew he should go get a shower and some food, but was too worried Mac was waiting for that twenty minute window when Jack left to wake up.
"You're killing me, kid." Jack sighed, his Texan accent thicker when tired.
"Go take a walk," Davida said from the doorway.
"They waterboarded him, Davida. He's got the start of pneumonia. I want to be here when he wakes up. Last time I left for twenty minutes this kid convinced himself it'd been two hours," Jack shot her a look. "No thanks."
"Come on, Dalton." Davida rested her hand on his tense shoulder. "He's got good medicine in him. That sedative should last six hours. Go shower and eat."
"It's been two hours. Will you sit with him?" Jack dragged his gaze from Mac's lax face to Davida's kind eyes. "I can't explain it, but I just don't want him alone. Not while he's essentially unconscious."
"Jaaaack," Davida dragged out. "He isn't going anywhere. Look at him."
"It's alright. You don't gotta stay. But, I ain't leaving him alone." Jack turned back to Mac, effectively dismissing her.
"You shouldn't have given him those clothes. Fine. Twenty minutes." Davida grumbled.
Jack stared at her.
"Go on, Soldier." Davida nudged his shoulder. "Twenty minutes and then I've got other patients to check on."
"I'll be back in nineteen." Jack cast one more look at Mac's battered face and took off.
True to his word, Jack came sauntering back into Mac's room smelling like soap and munching on a cheeseburger. He had an extra one wrapped in paper towels for Davida.
Jack handed her the burger and glanced at Mac. "Cheeseburger."
"Thanks, he moved around a little, mumbled your name. He's building up to a fever." Davida accepted her cheeseburger.
"I'm thinking these sedatives maybe got a little watered down." Jack muttered. "Thanks for watching him."
"No problem." Davida headed out of the room and Jack took her seat. He munched on his burger while he watched the kid.
It wasn't long before Mac started tossing his head around on his pillow, knocking the oxygen mask sideways.
"Go back to sleep," Jack drawled, reaching for the mask.
Mac settled for a moment, then seemed to gain momentum. He shifted, restlessly. His back arched on the bed, then he jackknifed to a sitting position. "Jack!?"
"I'm here. You're ok," Jack tossed his burger on the table and gripped Mac's shoulders, careful of the broken arm. "Go back to sleep."
"No," Mac whimpered, a tear sliding down his cheek.
"Mac? You with me?" Jack highly doubted it. "You need some more pain meds, bud?"
"No," Mac had yet to open his eyes and Jack wondered at the one word answers.
"Are you awake?" Jack asked.
Instead of a response, he slumped against Jack's chest.
"That's a no."
Jack eased him back down on the mattress and repositioned the mask. Mac's eyes fluttered open. "Jack?"
"The one and only." Jack gave him a full wattage smile.
Mac looked up at him, dopey.
"You want more pain meds?" Jack asked, guiding Mac's hand away from the mask he was no doubt trying to remove. The younger man frowned at him, not liking the vulnerability of laying on his back.
"No," Mac tried to focus his eyes and make another grab for the mask. Jack intercepted him again.
"Do ya think you can say more than Jack or no?" Jack asked.
"Sleepy," Mac offered. Then his eyes opened wider. "Y' drugged me."
"Well, now, that was actually Davida." Jack hedged, even though he'd held the kid down while she shot the sedative into his hip.
"You held me down!"
"You tried to leave. You were seeing two of everything. You tore out your IV!" Jack stood to his feet.
"I didn't need it." Mac reached for the mask again.
"Don't you dare!" Jack gripped the younger man's wrists in his hands then switched both of Mac's wrists into one of his bigger, stronger hands. Jack put his free hand on the mattress, right by Mac's head and leaned in. Mac grimaced in pain. "You want a broken hand to match your broken arm?"
Mac shook his head, biting his lip.
"Then you listen to me," Jack gave Mac a little shake. "That mask and IV stay put until you're told otherwise? You hearin' me?"
"Yes," a hot tear slid down Mac's cheek.
"Ah, Mac." Jack released Mac's wrists and watched them fall to the mattress. "You're really sick, bud. You've got a fever, you swallowed a bunch of nasty water, your arm is broken, your face is one humongous bruise."
Mac wouldn't meet his eyes. "You didn't come."
"What's that?" Jack leaned in.
"I waited and I told the other guys you would come, but you didn't." More tears followed the first.
"I did, Mac." Jack struggled for words. "I came as soon as I knew. I could kill Kristoph for not notifying us sooner. I would have dropped everything to get to you right away. You have to know that. I came as soon as I knew you weren't where you were supposed to be."
"No you didn't. I wish you'd left and went back to Texas. I don't need you." Mac rolled away from Jack.
*Please review. Thanks.
