Mac felt weird. By the time they'd reached the plane, his coughing had subsided. The weight of Jack and Riley's concern was burning his skin even more than the hives. Nothing he said would alleviate their worry, so he stopped trying. He just kept his eyes closed and pretended to sleep. When they pulled up to the hangar, Mac got out of the car and wobbled to the plane without saying anything.
He doubted he could have anyway. Everything seemed to bend and undulate around him. The ground didn't feel real. Inside he felt like a lead pipe that had a steel brush ran through it many times. His throat burned, his mouth had started to have sores, it hurt to move, and he felt like he wore contact lenses with iron spikes in them. He remained hunched over his sides and back screaming every time they were expected to work. Mac's neck felt twisted like a peanut butter jar and his head about to explode. Then there was the fact that the hideous smell and nauseating taste wouldn't go away.
Jack grabbed his arm and whirled him around. The older man's eyes widened as he had to hold onto Mac to keep him from listing off his feet.
"Mac?" Jack's voice was gentle. Mac didn't look good at all. Jack frowned when Mac wobbled off his feet. He caught his partner who looked at him blankly from blood red eyes. "Can you hear me?" Mac growled, pulled himself free and staggered to the gang plank. Jack let him go. He turned and shared a worried look with Riley.
"He looks like crap," Riley said.
"I'm pretty sure it's the shot kicking in, his coughing is better."
"Yeah, after some rest he'll be better, did you get his meds?"
"The doc said to wait a few hours, so I figured I'd get them after we get him home." Jack slammed the back door of the van carrying his and Mac's go bags. He handed the keys off to a Phoenix agent and signed the release form. Riley was on the plane as Jack strode toward the Boeing. Jack could feel the tightness of his muscles, and he had to admit, more than a little guilt. He felt bad about essentially forcing Mac to take the shot. What if that made him worse? Jack tried to reassure himself that the kid's coughing was better and reminded himself that not only had Mac taken a swim in some seriously nasty pollution but that the boy had fallen from a good 50-foot tall cat walk. As the gangplank thudded shut behind him, Jack couldn't help but feel like he was only dropping cow patties.
Jack stowed the gear and pulled out the sat phone. He updated Matty and called Bozer to let the man know Mac would need some TLC for the next few days, not that the blond would appreciate it. Jack smiled. In the end, it didn't matter, Jack's job was to keep the kid safe and well even if that meant tying him down and using a plastic funnel to pour the medicine down his throat.
Riley had chosen a seat halfway down the cabin and was pulling out her laptop. She glanced up at Jack then tilted her head toward Mac. Mac had gone to the couch the farthest in the back and laid flat his arm crossed over his eyes. Jack patted Riley on the shoulder and made his way back.
"Hey, bud…" Jack began in a soft voice. Mac moved his arm and glared at Jack, then with a groan rolled over facing the leather back of the seat with his back to his partner. Jack felt a pang of heartache but reminded himself Mac had an excellent reason to be pissed at him. Besides, Jack thought, if the kid was pissed he was probably feeling at least a little better. The plane's engine flared loud as it jerked into movement.
Mac gave a small moan and put his hands over his ears curling up into a fetal ball. Jack sat at the end of the kid's couch so Mac would know he was there no matter what. At the push of takeoff Mac let out a louder cry of pain and hunched in closer. Jack frowned. He leaned forward and began rubbing Mac's back gently. He could feel the younger man's muscles bunch and cramp. It wasn't until they were at cruising altitude that Mac's muscles began to relax, a little. Mac released his head and let out a deep breath. He coughed a few soft coughs; his eyes pushed tighter closed with pain.
"It's ok, Mac. Relax, get some sleep." Jack soothed. He could feel Mac's body relax more and the kid leaned into the comfort of Jack's gentle touch.
"Go'way," Mac muttered. Jack smiled at the tone. It was Mac's way of telling Jack he didn't want his partner to leave but wanted to remind Jack he didn't need the older man's help.
"Yeah, not happening, kid," Jack said softly. He stood and retrieved a pillow and blanket. He handed Mac the pillow. Mac put it under his head without looking up. Jack spread the blanket over his friend then stretched out on the couch facing his partner. Jack yawned feeling his body demand sleep. Jack looked up at a whimper from Mac. The blond slowly rolled over in stages. Jack frowned. It was evident Mac hurt with every movement. Once he stretched out facing the cabin, Mac seemed to relax. Jack watched him until his breathing was easy and all discomfort smoothed off his face as he drifted asleep. Jack let out a relieved breath then drifted to sleep.
Jack didn't wake up until the pilot announced they were beginning their descent to LAX. Jack sat up yawning and wiped his face. He blinked and looked at Mac. The younger man sat wrapped tightly in the blanket and leaned against a pillow, his legs bent to his chest as he blankly stared out the window. Jack glanced forward to see Riley rubbing her eyes as she sat up stowing her blanket and pillow.
"Hey Mac, feel any better?" Mac glanced at him. Jack winced. The hives were a shade lighter, but his eyes were puffy almost swollen closed.
"I'm okay, are you alright?" Mac's voice was normal. Jack raised his eyebrows.
"Me? Why wouldn't I be alright? You're the one who took a swan dive into slime."
"You kept twitching and crying out as you slept." Jack frowned and wiped his eyes, running his hand through his hair. He didn't remember dreaming.
"Did I say anything?"
"Well, you were saying what a prick you were for taking advantage of your partner's weakness and how much you enjoyed forcing a nurse to stab him with a foot long instrument of torture." Jack blinked at him, his tired brain taking a second to catch up to everything Mac said. Mac smirked at him. Jack wished he had a pillow to throw at the snarky brat.
"Well, it was kinda fun," Jack admitted with a smile. He was relieved to see Mac more himself. Mac did have a pillow and threw it. It fell short of smacking Jack in the face, a silent testament to how poorly Mac still felt. Jack set it beside him and leaned on his knees yawning. He studied Mac. Mac rolled his eyes then winced closing them and rubbed his forehead.
"You look like a bug-eyed vampire." Jack offered with sympathy. Mac opened his eyes and glared at his friend. Before he could say anything, Riley came back and looked at Mac.
"You look a hell of a lot better." Mac smiled up at her.
"I'm all right, Riley. The shot, " Mac shot a hostile look at Jack, "seems to be working."
"Aren't you glad you took it?" Jack didn't even try to hide his smugness. Mac growled and turned to look out the window. The sun was just starting to come over the horizon. Mac looked into the light, cried out in pain turning away covering his eyes with his hands. He fought the urge to rub them. Jack was at his side in an instant. "Eyes?" He asked. Mac nodded looking away from the window and blinking.
"Damn." He muttered.
"Didn't they wash them out?" Riley asked.
"Yeah, for quite awhile," Jack answered. "Look at me, bud." Mac looked up at Jack's face. It was blurry, and his eyes burned like hot briquettes. Jack studied them carefully. He sat back.
"They seem to be working ok, just irritated." Mac scowled at him.
"No kidding. I'd love to know what was in that crap."
"I bagged up your slimy clothes so we could test them," Riley said. Both men turned to look at her surprised. "What? It obviously had some nasty funk in it." Jack laughed and patted the woman on the shoulder. The plane dropped in altitude. Mac moaned and put his hands over his ears curling forward grimacing. Jack put a hand on his shoulder. It hadn't occurred to him that the green stuff could have hurt the kid's ears. It made sense. It would also explain Mac's trouble with balance. Mac's face pinched in pain as they thudded into a smooth landing and the engine's roared slowing the plane. Jack reached over and rubbed the kid's back. Mac didn't relax until they were slowly taxiing up to the Phoenix's hangar. He leaned forward taking deep breaths rubbing his temples.
"Ugh...that sucked." Mac finally said. Jack and Riley shared a glance.
"We'll pick up your meds on the way home. Bozer said he's going to make you some of Mama's chicken noodle soup." Mac glared at Jack with a whole different kind of pain.
"You told Bozer?" Jack just smiled. Mac closed his eyes and rubbed his temples again.
"Ugh."
Jack took of his aviator shades and handed them to Mac. They made Mac's eyes look like sagging holes. Jack found the effect a bit creepy. Otherwise, the yellow lens made Mac look like a gangster from a '70s movie.
"You're staring," Mac growled. Jack shrugged. Mac wobbled to his feet and followed Riley off the plane. He tipped forward on the gang plank. He would have done a header to the tarmac if Jack didn't catch his shoulders and pulled him back upright. Neither said a word, Mac swallowed. The world seemed to sway and bend around him. The foul taste flooded the back of his mouth, he leaned over and gagged, spitting up a small brown and green puddle. Jack stood beside him, his arm on Mac's back. Riley had turned at the wretching and walked back to Mac's side. She glanced at Jack whose mouth was a grim line. Mac straightened, and his knees weakened, threatening to buckle. Jack readily supported him until Mac regained his footing.
"Mac?" Riley asked, her arm on the blonde's right arm. Mac smiled at them weakly but didn't say a word. He lurched toward the parking lot. Mac didn't say anything when they led him to Jack's car instead of his own. He hadn't expected them to let him drive home, and for once Mac was grateful. He climbed into the back seat and curled into a ball putting his folded arm over his head as if he could block out the world.
Riley glanced over the roof at Jack. Jack sighed and shrugged. Jack winced as he turned on the car. Mac let out an audible soft cry of pain.
"We'll be home soon, buddy." Jack offered as he slowly drove the winding paths of LAX toward the freeway. It was still early enough that they should beat morning traffic, at least Jack hoped so. Mac didn't answer. He stayed curled into a fetal ball of misery whimpering with every loud noise or sudden move. Jack and Riley rode in tense, worried silence, their eyes always darting back to their friend.
Jack pulled up to the street in front of Littleton Pharmacy and parked. He glanced back. Mac's arm hung off the back seat, and he was softly snoring. Jack smiled at Riley.
"I'll be right back, want anything?" Riley shook her head. Jack got out of the car, careful to close the door as softly as possible. To his relief, Mac didn't stir.
The family owned pharmacy was in a squat square brick building with a faded brown metal awning. The painted lettering on the big front window was faded and chipped, missing a couple of letters. According to the dull gold filigree, the pharmacy had been established in 1950.
Entering with the worn and threadbare brown carpet and musty smell, you could feel the time and history of the place. Jack liked coming to this pharmacy not only because it's on the way to Mac's house from the airport, but because he wanted to support the little guy against conglomerate corporations. Aside from that, when this neighborhood had started to fall to urban decay this little store never gave up providing the neighborhood poor with a way to get groceries and other items without having to hunt for transportation. A new freeway had reinvigorated the area. Many of the small shops sold out and renovated. Again this lone business held out, the ultimate underdog. Jack admired that, although he had to admit the store's better years had already come and gone.
None of the shelves were fully stocked. Only a handful of each item lined them. In the back corner, a pile of shelving leaned against the wall. The display area inside the big window was full of dusty pamphlets that were discolored from the sun and curled at the corners. Jack strode past a refrigerator of drinks that rattled as it ran. The door frosted with coolness. Jack paused and pulled out a couple of waters smiling at their coolness.
The counter held rows of colorful candy bars. The cashier leaned on the counter filing her fingernails. Jack smiled. Despite being named Littleton's the pharmacy had been owned by the Jin family since Jin Hu had escaped the famine in the late '50s. He had brought his wife and daughter from China having to apply for asylum from the new Mao government.
"Jack, how are you? Jin Fai, Hu's granddaughter, dropped her nail file jumped off her stool, unlocked the door and came out to give him a hug. Jack hugged her with a smile. When he'd discovered this place just after joining DXS, Fai had been a gangly teen with braces, freckles, and attitude. Even then when left to mind the store, she had thrown out more than one trouble maker with nothing more than sharp words and anger. Now she was a beautiful woman Riley's age.
"I'm good Fai, how is Yu?" Fai sighed and shook her head.
"Grandmother's arthritis is worse, but she is still ornery as hell." Fai smiled as she took the paper scripts Jack handed her and returned to the window. Jack leaned on the counter watching the girl, woman he corrected himself moving through the small shelves lined with white bottles of medications.
"You don't have to tell me twice! I still have a bruise from where the woman hit me in the head with her bamboo cane." Fia looked at him and laughed.
"She thought you were flirting with her."
"Well, I wasn't." Fia raised an eyebrow and stared at Jack a long
Minute. Jack shook his head. "Not much." Fai laughed and squinted at the squiggles on the prescription. She frowned.
"Is this for you or MacGyver?"
"Mac, he had a terrible day at work yesterday." Fai smiled.
"I don't know what the two of you do, but you seem to have a lot of bad days at work."
"You don't know the half of it." Fai looked up to respond when her expression froze looking at someone over Jack's shoulder. Jack half turned. The two men behind him were middle aged whites in slacks, white shirts, and leather jackets. Jack's eyes narrowed his hackles raising. The pair's eyes hid behind mirrored glasses. In Jack's experience, only guys who wanted to intimidate others wore them. Jack's hand twitched ready to reach back for his gun.
"Hello Fai." the taller of the two with curly sand colored hair said. There was a squeak in his voice that rubbed Jack the wrong way. Fai answered them in Mandarine. It was too fast for Jack to follow. Turning back to Fai, the fear in her eyes didn't need any translating. Jack leaned against the counter his hand casually behind his back, fingers on the butt of his Baretta.
"Howdy fellas, How's life treating you?" Jack smiled, but his dark eyes were flint sharp. The shorter man, black-haired, stubby and the same color as a bloated fish, took a step forward his hand moving to his jacket. Jack didn't change expression, but his fingers curled around the Baretta. The taller man put a hand on the guy's shoulder. The dark haired man lifted his lip, paused then retreated. Jack didn't change his position.
"We are fine; it looks to be a pleasant day doesn't it?" The taller man said, his conversational tone belied by his blank face.
"Sure, but there might be a storm here or there." Jack drawled. The man smiled, an expression that would be at home on a hissing snake.
"Indeed. Do try to stay dry." The man said. He turned to Fai and rattled off another long burst of Chinese.
"Not likely." Jack offered, a purred threat visible in his tone. The man gave Jack a slight bow.
"Just so." He murmured. He said something to his companion in a language Jack didn't recognize but sounded Slavic. Jack waited until the two left. He turned to look at Fai who pushed a small white bag through the window.
"Thank you, Jack." Her voice was a soft tremble; her eyes stayed on the floor. She turned to go to the back room.
"Fia?" Jack called. The girl's back twitched, and she turned with reluctance. Jack could see tears hanging in her eyes. "Don't forget the money; Yu would kill me if I didn't pay." Fia flinched at the word kill but managed a weak smile. Jack handed over the money. He didn't know how much the meds were, all he had was a $100 bill. Jack slid that into the slot after pulling out the meds. When she went to reach for it, he gently grabbed her hand. Her skin was cold, and her fingers shook. Jack leaned forward trying to meet her eyes. She turned her head to the side.
"Fai, what is it? Are they shaking you down? I can help." Fai glanced up at him; her face had a hollow resignation he didn't like at all.
"No, Jack you can't. No one can. Tell Mac I hope he feels better." She pulled her hand free and vanished into the back room. Jack pounded his fist on the counter.
"Dammit." He turned pulling out his keys and grabbing the bag and waters. He glanced at the street as he stepped out of the store. Jack climbed into the car with a predatorial grin. Riley went to tell him something, she paused. Jack's gaze fell on a gray Ford parked two cars behind him. When he turned on the engine, he recognized the two men as they started their car.
"Jack-?" Her voice trailed off as she followed Jack's gaze. Sure enough, the car pulled in behind them.
"Ri, could you-"
"Already on it, who are they?" Jack huffed.
"I have no idea, but I mean to find out."