Riley stood up from her computer and stretched. She crossed to the kitchen where Bozer was stirring a huge pot of noodles. She leaned over curious. On the counter was a huge bowl of finely cut vegetables.
"Vegetable Primavera, done the Bozer way," Bozer said with a grin. Riley nodded.
"Looks good."
"I wanted something easy on Mac's stomach, he tried to eat breakfast this morning and only had a couple of bites."
"I'm just glad he's doing better," Riley said getting a Dr. Pepper from the fridge. Bozer covered the noodles and turned down the heat. He sighed and leaned against the counter. Riley leaned beside him.
"Are you ok, Boze?" Bozer wiped his face with his hands.
"Seeing him that sick...it about did me in, then Jack being so upset this morning…"
"Why was Jack angry?"
"Mac went out for a run."
"He did what?" Bozer smiled at the hot glare flashing in the woman's eyes.
"I know right? And he doesn't even get it." Bozer huffed. Before Riley could respond, Mac and Jack slowly came through the door. Bozer straightened his mouth agape. Riley crossed to Jack's side and peered at the bump and bruise on his head. She went to touch it, Jack tiredly pushed her hand away and fell onto the couch with a sad sigh. Riley turned to Mac. Bozer was eyeing his friend who laid a box on the island reached into the fridge and took out three bottles of water.
"Did you fall into another puddle?" Bozer said exasperatedly. Mac didn't answer. As the other three watched in shock, he sucked down all three bottles hardly pausing for air. When Mac finished the last one, Mac let out a relieved breath and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He felt the other's stares.
"What?" He asked. Bozer walked up to him and felt his forehead. Mac batted his hand away. "What're you doing?"
"A little thirsty?" Jack asked coming to lean on the counter. Mac blinked at them. He looked down at the water bottles and raised an eyebrow.
"I guess so," Mac said softly. He looked at the others a hint of worry in his eyes. He turned to Bozer and grinned, "I'm also starving when's supper?" Bozer smiled glad to hear it.
"About half an hour." Mac patted his friend on the shoulder.
"I'm gonna take a shower. Riley, why don't you see what you make of that." Mac pointed at the box."We also need to know who rented the apartments around Jin Yu and…"
"Security cameras everywhere got it." Mac smiled and patted her on the shoulder as he passed toward the bath. Riley glanced at Bozer then at Jack who watched after Mac familiar worry lining his face. Riley also noted Jack looked exhausted and sad. She knew that Jack had a special relationship with Yu.
"Jack, why don't you relax a bit before supper?" Riley said gently. Jack turned his gaze and looked at her blankly for a long moment. Riley gently wrapped her hand around his arm and tugged him to the couch. He sat down and ran his hand through his thinning hair wincing as he brushed the lump. Bozer walked over and gave Riley an ice pack wrapped in a clean towel.
"She didn't deserve that," Jack said softly. Riley sat on the coffee table facing Jack and waited. He looked up his eyes moist. "After all she'd been through, and Jin Fai…" Riley leaned forward and put both of her hands on his forearms.
"Jack, we're going to get them. You need some rest and food." Jack opened his mouth to protest. Riley's met his gaze with a severe one of her own.
"Isn't that what you would tell Mac?" Jack narrowed his eyes and snatched the ice pack out of her hand.
"I hate it when you use my own words against me." Riley laughed and helped him lay flat on the couch. Riley smiled.
"Well once in awhile little nuggets of wisdom do pop out."
"And you feel the need to throw them back at me?"
"How else am I suppose to learn from my ancient elders?"
"Shut up. Go away." Jack couldn't hide the small smile that belied the grumpiness in his voice.
Mac sighed in relief as he dressed into dry clothes. He wiped his face with the towel but couldn't seem to get it dry. Thirst suddenly consumed him. He bent under the nozzle of the sink and sucked in huge gulps of water. Mac didn't hear the soft knock on the door or Bozer calling his name. Bozer opened the door, and his mouth fell open at the sight of his roommate sucking water from the faucet like he'd been in the desert for months.
"Mac?" Bozer asked. When Mac didn't respond, Bozer crossed to him and pulled on his shoulder. Mac frowned in confusion licking his lips staring at the water. Bozer turned off the water and shook Mac by the arm. Mac slowly focused on him.
"Boze?"
"Mac, what's going on?" Mac stared at him a long minute. He ran his hand through his damp hair. He shook his head, his blue eyes clouded with worry.
"I don't know Boze. I just can't get enough to drink." Mac wiped his face which was already wet with sweat. "And this sweating…" Mac trailed off staring down at the wet clothes he had been wearing. His heart began to thud faster, was this from the stagnant water? Bozer could feel his friend start to tremble.
"C'mon, you'll feel better after you eat," Bozer said leading Mac to the kitchen.
"I'm starving!" Mac said grinning. His mouth flooded as he smelled primavera. Jack smiled at him around a mouthful of noodles.
"This is awesome!" Jack gushed. Bozer swelled with pride. Mac dimly heard what they were saying. Riley was scooping the noodle and vegetable dish onto a plate for him, and Mac's entire world became that dish. He had to force himself to slow long enough to grab a fork. Mac scooped in two bites then frowned. He set his fork down, turned and walked into the living room. He sat on the smaller couch, pulling his knees up to his chest and closing his eyes resting his forehead in his palm.
The other three shared a worried glance then stared at Mac surprised. Jack crossed to Mac and squatted down to eye level.
"Mac?" He asked gently. Mac huffed and looked at him, with moist eyes. Jack frowned. "What's wrong?" Mac gritted his teeth in frustration. Jack didn't like how sweaty the kid was already.
"One minute I'm hungry enough to eat the whole pot of food, two bites and the idea of touching food…" Mac closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.
"Maybe that's why you're so thirsty?" Bozer asked.
"What?" Jack asked. Mac slapped his hand on the arm of the couch making everyone jump.
"It doesn't matter. Go ahead and finish dinner, I want to open that box." Mac moved around them and grabbed the box. Mac settled on the end of the long couch furthest from them. Riley and Bozer looked at Jack who nodded to the kitchen the three returned to their dinners and leaned in close whispering.
"What do you mean thirsty?" Jack asked.
"When I went in to get him, he was sucking water from the faucet like a desert nomad. Then he looked at me all confused like he didn't know he was doing it." Bozer glanced over at Mac worried.
"That's like when Mac drank those waters when he got home; Mac acted like he didn't even remember what he'd done," Riley added
"I guess that makes sense considering how much he's sweating." Jack mused. Jack scrubbed his face with his hands and blinked. He felt refreshed after his nap, but could easily sleep another 10 hours. "Time for him to go to medical, we have to find out what the hell was in that slime."
" Good luck getting him there." Riley scoffed. Jack finished his plate and wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. He grinned.
"Oh boy, Riley I think it's time for us to step out, the deck is lovely this time of night."
"Bozer, I believe you 're absolutely right. I love the glint off the pool as the sun goes down." The pair took their plates and cans of soda and walked out to the deck to finish their meal. Jack chuckled and crossed to Mac sitting beside the blonde.
Mac sat bent over the contents of the small box. He'd cut it open careful to preserve as much of the original packaging as possible. Inside were paper clippings-hundreds of them. Mac slowly pulled them out and put them into two piles.
"What are these?" Jack asked glancing at the piles. Mac jumped. Jack frowned, his partner hadn't noticed Jack sitting down? Not good.
"Most of them are obituaries. Only a couple have a COD listed; this one is a 20-year old that had 'failure to thrive.'" Mac handed Jack the five line clipping.
"Isn't that what they usually say about old folks?"
"Yeah, this one says malnutrition, but this guy lived alone-probably a shut in." Jack pointed at the other stack. "Those are articles about homeless people found dead, no names all the deaths are ruled as 'exposure' or some variation."
"Not surprising." Jack offered.
"No, but why did Fai collect all these? They have to be tied together somehow. Some of these look weeks old; some look printed off this week." Mac put the last one on the coffee table and set aside the empty box. Mac sat back and draped his arm across his eyes.
"I'll have Riley run the names…" Jack began. Mac shot him a surprised look that quickly turned to suspicion. Jack smiled. Mac sat up straight.
"What?" Mac demanded. Jack studied him. Mac was pale and damp with sweat again, he looked exhausted, and his eyes looked like someone had put on red eyeliner. Jack decided to be blunt.
"You know what." Jack braced himself for a long argument. His eyes rose in shock when Mac let out a long sigh and stood up heading towards the front door. Mac paused glancing back an eyebrow raised. "Damn. Maybe today I'll start playing the lottery."