Mac's eyes brimmed with tears as Jack and Doc Carl left. He closed his eyes refusing to give into the dark spiral that seemed to suck him empty. Mac jumped at a hand on his shoulder. He glared up at Sally.
"Leave me alone." He growled. Damn if she didn't smile down at him! Mac tried to push himself to run, but his body refused to listen. His eyes burned with frustration and a black wave of emotion he couldn't understand or defeat. Mac squeezed his eyes shut, but tears still managed to slip out the corners of his eyes mixing with the near constant drips of sweat that ran down his face. He jumped at a hand on his forearm and refused to look up at Sally sure that she was happy he was finally at his lowest point.
"Mac, I have to draw some blood," Sally said softly. Mac glared up at her. There wasn't any amusement on her face. Mac covered his head with his arm and curled into a ball.
"Go away." Mac hated how whiny his voice sounded.
"No," Sally said directly. Mac peeked at her from under his arm. He expected her to be standing over him with a syringe ready to stab him no matter what he said. She stood over him arms crossed studying him, her lips pursed. Obviously, something was on her mind. Mac lowered his arm.
"What?" He demanded. Sally shrugged and sat in the chair Jack had pulled over. Mac stared at her uneasy. What game was the sadistic elf playing? She crossed her legs and leaned her head back sighing. Sally looked at her watch and sighed. "Am I keeping you from something?" Mac sneered.
"Yes." Mac lifted his head surprised. She sighed again and held out her hand. "I was hoping to get my nails done, washing them so often is hell on cuticles." She bent her fingers and studied her nails. She ran her hand through her short straight hair. "I was also thinking of getting my hair done. Do you think it'd look good in curls? Sam thinks it'd make me look like Bozo; I'm not sure." Sally checked her watch. "Ten more minutes my shift be done then Lenny's on. I'll let him get your blood; he has been looking forward to trying a new IV set were looking at getting and he loves the challenge of getting you." Sally smiled and sat waving her foot absently in the air. Mac glared at her. He knew she didn't care about him, no matter what Jack said Mac had always known Sally hated him. For some reason having her bluntly admit it hurt. More tears fell. Sally looked at him and sighed again glancing at her wristwatch.
"Why don't you just go?" Mac snarled. Sally didn't react or answer. Mac closed his eyes determined to ignore her. She didn't want to help him-fine, he didn't need her. The idea felt like a knife to his chest. He felt alone, adrift, and incredibly sad. To his surprise, a sob escaped. He bit his lip, but the dam was cracked. He found himself crying uncontrollably. What was the hell wrong with him? Suddenly two strong arms wrapped him in a firm hug. Mac instinctively reached out and pulled Sally closer.
"It's ok, Mac. I'm not going anywhere." She murmured her voice again soft and kind. Mac stiffened realizing how expertly she'd manipulated him.. Sally held on. "You know I am always here to help you, will you let me help you, please?" Mac pulled away and angrily rubbed at his wet face. He glared at her.
"I hate you." He sniffed. Sally smiled and smoothed the wet hair away from his face.
"I know you do, now let's get you on your back. Do you want to sit up more?"
She helped him roll over and slid the head of the cart up. Mac looked away. Sally laid a box of tissue on his lap. "I'll be right back. Are you warm enough?" Mac crossed his arms. Truthfully he'd been cold for awhile, but he would be damned if he'd admit it. He looked down as he blew his nose. Sally shook her head and stepped out of the curtained area. Mac leaned his head back. Mac yawned. He closed his eyes and dried his face with a handful of tissues. His stomach growled like a lion with a thorn in its paw. Mac almost sobbed again. He was hungry and thirsty and there was nothing he could do about it. Mac smacked the side rail then winced satisfied. It was easier to deal with than the frustration that roiled through him. He wanted to have a temper tantrum, sob, and wail, scream, or something. Mac found himself grabbing a fist of wet hair and pulling on it. He moaned. Mac just wanted it to stop. Tears streamed from his eyes.
A dry, strong pair of firm hands squeezed him, pulling his hair free. He looked up at Sally a picture of complete misery. Sally turned and covered him with a warm blanket taken from the heater he'd finally managed to make. It had taken him several months and quite a few burnt towels to get the heating coils right. Mac closed his eyes letting out a long breath of relief. He yawned. Mac desperately wanted to sleep, but couldn't. Mac groaned with anger. He hated not being in control of his own body. His teeth gritted together. Mac's eyes flew open as he felt something warm and dry wrapped around his head and dry his face.
Sally leaned over him softly humming. She tucked the towel under his head. Mac could feel his scalp relax. He reached out a hand and took the warm wash cloth and dabbed his face. Mac sighed. It was odd, but just being able to wipe away sweat made him feel more in control. Sally smiled. Mac scowled. The woman knew it would. It was irritating. Sally sat down in the chair beside Mac and held out a hand. Mac was surprised to see an IV and multi hued vials for blood collection spread out on a table beside her. He glared at her. She'd had it set up the whole time.
"I really hate you." He growled. Sally smiled back at him sweetly.
"I know you do, honey." Mac huffed and offered his arm for its ritual stabbing.
"You enjoy this too much." Sally leaned forward with gloved hands and bounced a finger along the inside of his arm.
"Probably." She agreed. Sally smiled at him. "Ready?"
"Hell no!"
"Good, here we go." Sally put a tourniquet on Mac's upper arm. Mac scowled feeling hairs tear from their roots.
"Seriously, can't you do anything that doesn't hurt?" He groused. Sally smiled as she circled his inner arm with a wet alcohol pad.
"Probably not," Sally said. Mac turned to glare up at the ceiling; he began to count the tiny holes in the tiles. He closed his eyes. Fluorescent lights always gave him a headache. He could feel the tell-tale sign of Sally pulling his arm more downward. "Make a fist for me." Mac complied.
"Who's Sam?" He blurted trying to distract him from the impending stick.
"My little sister. She lives with me, has since our Mom died a few years back." Mac turned to look at her in surprise. He hissed as the needle slid smoothly into his arm. He glanced down and was relieved to see the blood blowback that told him she'd landed it on the first try.
"A hole in one," Sally said smiling. She attached the tubing and flushed it with saline. Mac let out a breath feeling himself relax. He mopped at his forehead. She taped it down then used the port to draw the copious number of tubes full of blood she needed for every test known to man. Mac studied her as she worked.
"How old is your sister?" Sally looked up as she changed out another tube shaking the one she held.
"Ten going on thirty." Mac found himself smiling at her. Sally finished getting all of the blood. Mac felt tears run down his face and swore, swiping at them. He glanced up at her and reached out to grab her arm. His grip was harder than he intended, he loosened his fist. She didn't move or flinch.
"What's going on with me?" He whispered. Sally studied his face calmly.
"We think you've been poisoned with a neurotoxin that's affecting your hypothalamus." Mac released Sally's arm surprised.
"How did I get poisoned? Was it that green slime?"
"Doc Carl said no, probably a designer pathogen." Mac felt his heart start to race. Was he targetted? Who? Why? Panic began to nibble at his vision. He felt as if he were locked in a black room and the walls were pushing in. Mac tried to sit up, to run. Sally set aside the blood and gently pushed Mac back. She leaned forward until she met his panicked eyes.
"Mac, breathe with me?" Sally took an exaggerated breath in, held it then let it out slowly. Mac tried to push her away, to get out! Sally pulled his chin back until he faced her again. "C'mon now, here we go." Mac sucked in air, too fast. Sally nodded encouragement. Mac slowly fell into sync with her slower patterns. He felt the fist of fear release him and almost cried in relief. "Great job, Sweetie," Sally said with a smile. She waited until he was calm. "I have to send these to the lab; I'll be right back, ok?" Sally stared at him until he nodded. She ducked under the curtain, pulling it closed behind her. Mac closed his eyes and swabbed his face. He listened intently for her step. Mac forced himself to keep breathing deeply. Mac found himself looking forward to her return. He growled, sure she'd put something in the IV.
Even though he was listening intently, Sally still managed to sneak up on him. He jumped as she breezed through the curtain. Mac swore he saw an evil smile of delight cross Sally's face. He glared at her, knowing creeping up on him was her favorite hobby. Sally leaned forward, and Mac could hear something thud under the cart. She lowered the head of the gurney down and rolled him out of the ER area.
"Whe're we going?" Mac asked. His Adam's apple bobbed as an unexpected flare of fear strummed through him as they slid sideways around a corner.
"Up to your room, keep your hands in," Sally chirped as they skidded into the elevator.
"No kidding, where'd you learn to drive?" Mac breathed. Sally grinned at him a wicked gleam in her brown eyes.
"Who says I have?" The doors dinged as they opened. Mac pulled his hands in close to his chest under the blanket as the railing skidded along the side of the elevator. He closed his eyes more afraid than he was when Jack was trying to out run terrorists. There were a loud thud and rumble. Startled he looked up to see bright lights whip by them like the Holland Tunnel. He moaned and ducked under the covers. He could hear Sally giggle like a maniacal serial killer. They slid around another corner then screeched to a halt. Mac took a deep breath and dared to peep out. He sucked in the air. Sally looked up.
"Which room?" She asked. Mac followed her gaze to see Lenny coming over to them. Lenny grinned down at him with delight.
"Hey, Mac! Long time no see, bud." Mac ducked back under the blanket decided this was all a nightmare. Lenny laughed, and they wheeled him into a room. Mac pushed the blanket down waiting impatiently for the rails to go down. Finally, he could get out of this uncomfortable cart.
The world swirled around him, and everything seemed to go gray for a long minute when he stood up. Sally and Lenny held onto him patiently waiting until it passed. Mac took a deep breath. Sally leaned down studying him.
"Back with us?" Mac managed a nod. They let him set the pace as they walked the short distance to the bed. Mac felt himself huffing with exertion as they walked. He kept shuffling until they helped him lay flat. Mac took a deep breath and let it out. The dry sheets and blankets felt beautiful even if he knew his sweating would have them soaked soon enough. He closed his eyes feeling his body relax and desperately crave sleep. Mac listened to Lenny and Sally murmur above him as they hooked up a monitor and fluids to his IV. He opened his eyes and huffed as sleep once again eluded him. "Let's get you into some dry clothes." Mac nodded. They changed his soggy gown. Lenny turned to activate the monitor. It began to flash red and howl. Mac looked up and felt a fluttering in his chest. He grabbed Sally's arm in panic. "Easy, Mac, it's going to be ok. You just need some fluids." Mac suddenly felt a knife stab into his heart and open a numbing trail down his left arm. He clutched his chest and looked desperately up at Sally. She smiled down calm as always, but Mac could see a tension around her eyes and mouth.
"Sally?" He grunted.
"Easy, Mac. It's going to be ok." Sally reached up and took an oxygen mask from Lenny.
"Promise?" Mac asked in a very young voice. Sally smiled as she leaned over to lift his head to slide on the mask. She leaned close to his ear.
"I promise." She whispered. The oxygen felt cold against his wet face. Mac grabbed the nurse's hand.
"Don't leave," Mac begged. Sally reached down and gently ran her hand through Mac's hair.
"You know me better than that, Mac. Especially since I'll get to poke you more." Oddly, that made Mac feel better. He closed his eyes and squeezed her arm harder as his chest seemed to cave in on itself. Mac began to heave. Sally pulled Mac to sitting and moved, so he leaned against her. He didn't have anything to heave, but his stomach didn't get the memo. Everything seemed to go dimmer. His head fell back and landed on Sally's shoulder. It felt like a spiked steel band was tightening, making it harder to breathe. He felt something cold against his face. Mac drowsily opened his eyes to see Sally dabbing at his face with a damp towel. Lenny leaned over, and they moved Mac to the middle of the bed and raised the head of the bed up. They were talking above him, and Mac was dimly aware of the alarms going quieter. Mac had trouble taking a full breath. He felt like he was falling down a tunnel through the floor. Then there were new voices. Mac slowly blinked. Jack looked down at him fear on his face. Mac wanted to tell him everything was going to be ok because Sally promised. His eyes slid closed, and he fell into the hole completely.