Mac opened his eyes and took a deep breath. He'd finally been able to doze off periodically, and he'd stopped sweating. Mac knew it wasn't a good sign; his body was failing him fast. It irritated him, but there wasn't much he could do about it. At least Mac wasn't hungry or thirsty anymore. That morning when they weighed him he'd been down 20 pounds. Even allowing for the loss of water weight, that was a lot of weight to lose in a week. Mac sighed. He'd always thought he'd get blown up or fall off a building when one of his plans failed, starving to death? Nope, never expected that. At least it was going faster than usual starvation. Mac snorted softly. If he hadn't fallen into green slime and gotten poisoned, they would never have found out about the pathogen, so there was that. Oddly that wasn't much of a comfort.
Mac tried to sit up but found he couldn't. Panic made his heart speed up. He tried to roll over and had to sit back huffing with exhaustion. He closed his eyes determined not to let the tears of frustration fall. It was inevitable that he would reach a point where he would be too weak to do much more than stare at the wall, he knew that, but to not be able to move was a special level of hell. Despite his best efforts tears leaked from the corner of his eyes. Mac growled. He had to do something, anything. Mac reached up with a shaking hand and managed to push the call light button on the side rail. He supposed he should be grateful, at least without eating or drinking he wouldn't have to have anybody clean him up or have to use a bed pan. It was bad enough he was stuck with a catheter.
Sally came running in, panic on her face. Mac smiled. He knew he should feel guilty, but he was kind of pleased to upset her a little. Fair was fair, right? She took in the IV's, and heart monitors then looked at him surprise and curiosity on her face. Mac had never used the call light before. Sally stepped closer and bent down.
"What's up, kiddo?" She asked. Mac shook his head, the room swinging with the motion.
"Why do you call me 'kiddo' we're the same age?" Mac said. Sally chuckled.
"I call everybody kiddo; I'm an old soul I guess." Mac rolled his eyes. He looked at her seriously.
"I need your help." Sally smiled and straightened the edge of Mac's covers.
"Finally! I have been waiting for those words to come out of your mouth for half a decade!"
"Well enjoy it…" Mac trailed off yawning. Sally looked down with a frown. She did not like the defeatism in Mac's tone. He looked up at her sadly.
"You aren't giving up, are you? Jack and the others are out getting what we need to get you better; if you don't wait for them to get back, Jack will kill you." Mac gave a forced smile he didn't answer, unable to speak around the knot in his throat. He looked down. Sally sighed and ran her fingers through his hair. "It's going to be ok, Mac. I know these things." Mac didn't look up. Sally frowned watching him grimace in pain. Sally realized that Mac had not changed position for the past three hours.
"Do you need help rolling over, Mac?" She asked softly. Mac looked up at her surprised and smiled.
"That's not why I called you, but yeah that would be great my hips and shoulders are killing me." Sally smiled a gentle smile.
"Let me go grab Chelsea; I'll be right back." Mac nodded. He let out a deep breath sitting still as a stone gathering his strength. Mac closed his eyes choking down the embarrassment and shame. Sally had looked so grateful when he accepted her help. As much as she's always been there to help him, Mac figured he at least owed her that. Besides he said to himself, his hips and shoulders did hurt like hell. The two women entered and rolled him over smoothly and efficiently. Mac tried to help but had no strength left. Chelsea patted him on the shoulder and smiled as she left. Mac managed a tired smile for her.
"Ahgh!" Mac squawked as something cold hit his naked back. He turned his head. "What the hell-?" He glared at Sally as she chortled evilly. And he'd been trying to be nice?
"Gotta put cream over the bony bits otherwise you'll get sores," Sally said. Mac found himself relaxing at her touch, his eyes sagging and his breathing calm. Mac felt the siren call of sleep. He shook his head forcing it away. Sally hummed as she saw this. She covered him up and washed her hands. She leaned down to look at him eye to eye. "What's going on, Mac?" Mac raised an eye brow. She sounded exactly like Jack.
"I need you to get some things for me." She straightened up scowling.
"Why do I think these things are related to your case and not recovery?" Mac
Smiled the same smile that had charmed him out of most situations.
"They're a bit of both?" Sally stared up at the ceiling and huffed.
"Fine, what do you need?" Mac told her. She raised an eye brow and made
notes on her clipboard. She nodded. "It's going to take awhile to get all this, and I want you to sleep in the meantime, deal?" Mac nodded. Sally frowned at the fear that flashed across his face. Before she could ask, Mac said,
"Wake me up when you get them, ok?" Meeting his frightened gaze, she read the question behind the question. She squeezed his shoulder. Mac was afraid if he went to sleep, he wouldn't wake up again.
"My pleasure," She said with a wicked smile and arched eye brows. "I love
sneaking up on you." Mac glared at her.
"You are an evil elf." He growled.
"Yep," Sally said leaving with a little bounce in her step. Mac's eyes followed her a long minute. He didn't think he'd ever understood the woman. Mac let out a deep breath and relaxed into a solid slumber.
Three hours later, Sally got her wish to wake him up eliciting a startled cry. He glared at her. She smiled sweetly. She'd pulled over a table and had a laptop and pile of folders stacked up. Mac grinned and put his hand on the railing. He grunted in frustration when he couldn't move.
"I'll get Lenny." Mac raised his eye brows.
"Lenny's on? Shouldn't you be home by now?"
"I don't get to do detective work very often, or ever actually." Mac smiled at Sally's enthusiasm, glad to have someone to bounce ideas around with and keep him focused. Mac hesitated.
"What about Sam?"
"She's at the nurse's station getting money for a laptop from Lenny," Mac asked with a raised eye brow. "She's a holy terror at Poker. I better go rescue Lenny." Mac laughed as she left picturing a ten-year-old cleaning out the medic. If Sam's anything like her sister, Mac could believe it. The two came in, and all three joked about Sam kicking Lenny's butt as they flipped Mac. Lenny had a surprisingly gentle touch as he rubbed in the skin cream.
"Well gotta go buy evil baby elf a laptop." Lenny sighed as he covered Mac and washed his hands. Mac laughed at the indignation on Sally's face. She glared at MacGyver.
"Now look what you started." She groused. Mac only smiled glad to have a touch of revenge finally. His face grew serious. Sally sat down, and they began to work their way through the mound of papers. It took two hours, and Mac was damn near asleep by the time they finished hashing it all out. Sally looked over at him.
"Do you think we're right?" Mac looked at her with pity. The first step into the murky world of conspiracies was always the hardest and cost the most. He reached out a hand and weakly squeezed hers.
"We're here to stop it from happening anymore." He said his voice barely a whisper. She smiled and pushed his bangs back. Mac's eyes sank closed, and his hand unfurled limply. Sally bent and kissed the top of his head. She shook her head. Sally thought of the members of Mac's team. They were the best of the best of Phoenix and despite the horrible things she'd helped them heal through they never lost their hope in humanity or wish to help others. Looking at the notes she'd made, Sally admired them even more. How can they come up against this cold-evil was the only word she could think of-and not turn bitter? Sally gathered up the papers and left to call the others to tell them what she and Mac had found. She glanced back once at the sleeping man. That's why she liked Mac so much; he had the most selfless big heart she'd ever seen often to the point of harming himself. If she had to be mean to keep him healthy, she would be mean. Besides, she said with a smile, she loved a good challenge, and it was fun to see him flustered.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
The sound of a blaring fog horn distracted Rijad Dedic. Jack grinned for once glad of the annoying ring tone. It had been revenge for a joke he played on Mac; Jack hated it. No one could figure out how to change the loud and obnoxious ring tone, not even Riley. As Rijad's eyes shifted, Jack decided it was the best ringtone ever. He rolled and emptied the M5 into Rijad's chest. The man flopped over backward. Jack stood over him. He waited. The man's chest had blood on it, but nowhere enough for the amount of fire, he'd just taken. Combat armor, and good stuff too.
"Jack? You ok?" Riley called. Jack looked back at her. She peeped around the edge a server.
"Yeah, done?"
"About five more minutes, these files are huge." Jack nodded. He jumped as his phone fog horn sounded again.
"Whoever you are, I want to marry you and treat you right!" Jack gushed. His grin vanished. "Sally? Is Mac...what?" Jack listened for a long minute then nodded. "Ok gotcha. Don't worry. Ok, hey Sally...ok, good." Jack hung up with a small smile.
"Is Mac?" Riley asked walking closer.
"He's weak, but holding on. I'm worried about Matty and Bozer, Sally called them, and they didn't answer, and I think I know why. We have-Ahhgh!"
"Jack!" Riley shouted running toward him. Jack fell forward clutching his shoulder. He managed to turn in time to see Rijad fighting to hold his pistol. Jack scuttled to his left falling onto his side with a groan. Sparks flew as silenced bullets hit the servers. Riley reached Jack's side and helped support him as he staggered to his feet. Her eyes were wide looking for blood. Jack rubbed his shoulder as he turned. Rijad's hand shook. Blood ran down the assassin's chin, and his breathing was audible. Jack gently pushed Riley's hands aside.
"I'm ok, kiddo. Rijad isn't the only one who thought to wear armor. Hurts like a bitch though." Jack added. He bent and picked up his M5. "Go get the files; we have to go get Bozer and Matty." Riley hesitated.
"Jack?" Jack glanced at her. Riley swallowed and took a step towards the older man. She touched his hand and felt the tension. Jack looked at the assassin, his eyes flat and sharp.
"Go, Riley." Jack hissed. His jaw muscles clenched. Riley could feel rage and tension vibrate through him.
"No," Riley said grabbing his arm. He shot her a frightening look and went to pull away from her. "Jack, no," Riley said softer holding him tighter.
"Riley-" Jack's voice was hard as gravel. "Let go." Riley crossed to stand in front of him and put her hand on his chest. "Get out of the way." There was a dangerous threat in Jack's fury.
"No Jack. No." Riley said meeting his dark glare with a stubborn one of her own. "You're better than this."
"Riley-"
"No, Jack." Jack glared at the man gurgling on the floor. Jack's nostrils flared, and he ground his teeth together.
"Yu-"
"Is gone, Jack. It sucks, but there's nothing we can do about it. We have to focus on helping Bozer and Matty, and Mac." Jack flinched his eyes dropping at the name of his partner. "C'mon, Jack, we have to go." Jack looked at her and nodded. She ran and wrapped up her gear and stuffed it into her black bag giving Jack a minute to pull himself together. Jack knelt over the man whose blood sprayed with every breath. Jack studied him calmly. Rijad slowly focused on him and sneered, his teeth reddened by blood.
"You know, bud, you are damn lucky I hang around with the best people in the world. If it were up to me, I'd skin you alive and hang you from a pole." The assassin tried to spit at Jack. Jack swung a hard fist into the man's face. Jack felt facial bones cave under his knuckles. Jack shook his hand and looked out into the hallway. He frowned. There was still no one in sight. Jack started having a sinking feeling in his stomach.
"Jack!" Riley chastised as she handed him his M5. Jack automatically reloaded it.
"What? I never claimed to be a saint." Riley frowned and shook her head as she stepped over the dying man. She thought of Yu and Fai and fought the urge to kick the man. Riley shook her head and ran after Jack. Sometimes being the good guy sucked.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Matty leaned back and laughed. Bozer looked at her his eyes as round as plates.
"Boss? You ok?" Bozer's voice was two octaves higher. Matty looked over at him and leaned back in her chair looking as relaxed as she would at the beach.
"Oh I'm fine, Bozer, I just think it's funny." Cedric glared at her.
"What are you talking about?"
"I think it's funny that you think Halil is here to kill us for you." Behind her, Halil Gauric fidgetted and shared a glance with the two armed men.
"What do you mean?" Bozer mumbled hunching away from the men in fear. Matty threw him an encouraging look. Bozer told himself Matty had everything handled. His pounding heart and dry mouth exposed his doubts.
"See, Jeremy here is what? CIA?" Matty squinted at the round man and nodded. "Yeah, you're CIA. Been working along side the Bosnian mob, I guess Halil here is your leash?" Bozer glanced at the tall, thin blond man who was smiling. Bozer swallowed. The man had a reptile coldness that wrapped him in menace.
"I have no leash! I am in charge here!" Cedric said standing up leaning on his desk trying to intimidate Matty. He jumped back surprised as the two armed men by the door racked their rifles and pointed at him. "What are you doing!" He bellowed. The two uniformed soldiers looked at him, their faces were as flat and expressionless as sharks. Halil smiled and crossed to Cedric's side. Halil looked down at Matty.
"You are every bit as good as I have heard." The man said in a heavily accented English. Matty glared up at him not intimidated.
"What are you doing, Halil? I demand…"
"Oh shut up, Jeremy. You don't get it yet? Ms. Webber figured it out in ten minutes."
"Five," Matty said sweetly. Gauric chuckled and gave her a small bow. He turned to face Cedric.
"My...friends back home have decided to cut out the middle man. We don't need you or your masters anymore. I'm here to…" Halil ran his finger along the desk and frowned as if his finger had moved through a thick layer of dirt. "Clean up the mess you made."
"How dare you! You're in my country-" Cedric bellowed.
"Technically no, this is my country." Halil stood up looked down at the shorter man. Jeremy Cedric's face was pale with flames of red along his neck. Sweat beaded on his long forehead and lip.
"So tell me where is dear Chester?" Gauric asked.
"Chester?" Cedric asked confused. Halil laughed and shook his head. He glanced at Matty.
"Look at his stupidity. You don't even know what your assistant's been up to do you?" Cedric's face flushed. Bozer glanced at Matty who was eyeing the two soldiers. She glanced at Bozer.
"Easy Bozer." She said softly. Bozer nodded but couldn't stop the tremors rattling every nerve.
"What are you talking about?" Halil shook his head and growled in disgust. He turned to face Matty and Bozer and held out a hand as if guiding them to the door. Matty stood up and glared at the man. She reached out and grabbed Bozer by the sleeve pulling the younger man behind her.
"Mat-"
"Shut up and walk Bozer!" Matty hissed pulling his arm harder. One of the soldiers opened the door and stepped out, covering the pair with his rifle. Halil followed and rattled off something in Bosnian. The soldier smiled and nodded.
"Matty, what-" Bozer jumped as he heard a triple burst of gunshots. "They just shot that dude!" Bozer said in horror. Matty shot him a grim look and pulled harder on his arm.
"Keep up Bozer, or they're going to shoot us too."