Matty and Bozer were pushed to a white stretch limo in the motor pool. The stone-faced soldier flanking them opened the door and motioned with his rifle. Bozer raised his hands and ducked into the back. Matty bent and climbed in beside him. Halil Gauric was about to step in when his cell rang. Matty listened intently. She didn't know a word of Bosnian, but she knew tones of voices and Halil was very upset about something. Matty glanced around the large four-seated interior. A black tinted window separated the other soldier who stepped in as the driver. Matty glanced over at Bozer who was pale and looked like he was going to puke or pass out. Matty leaned toward him.
"Bozer, be ready." She whispered putting a reassuring hand on his knee. Bozer blinked at her.
"Ready-?" Bozer's voice was loud. Matty covered his mouth with a hand.
"Shhhh." Matty hissed.
"Ready for what?" Bozer whispered. Halil suddenly laughed and hung up. Matty felt a sinking feeling in her gut. Halil bent and leaned against the roof of the limo. The smile on his face was as chilling as a snake about to pounce on an unsuspecting mouse.
"I am afraid I will not be able to accompany you, it seems there is another loose end I must take care of personally." Matty frowned. She knew Jack and Riley had to be inside the consulate by now, did he mean Jin Fai and Homer Chester? Matty wondered about the phone call. If his people found the couple, why would they need Halil to 'take care of it' personally? Matty felt butterflies swarming her gut. She was missing something, or something else was going on, neither was the desired scenario.
"So sad." Matty sneered her questions hidden under a sarcastic smile. Gauric grinned and stepped aside. The other soldier climbed in sitting on the long white leather seat across from Matty and Bozer. The soldier rested his rifle on his lap and stared at them-a deadly statue.
"This is Adru; he'll have to do, although I do admit his conversation skills are somewhat limited. Halil slammed the door. The limo pulled away. Matty's eyes followed Gauric as he crossed to a tan Mercedes with regular California plates. No soldiers accompanied him. Matty frowned her unease raising. Matty glanced over at Bozer. The younger man sat closer to her than he normally would have. His eyes roved, and Matty saw him tense and jump at every movement of the car. Matty could tell he was fighting to keep from babbling.
"Adru, I don't suppose we could get a drink?" Matty asked her eyes moving to the limo bar built into the corner of the seat the man sat on. Adru followed her gaze. While he looked away, Matty pulled a steel ball point pen out of her pocket. Adru turned back to her his lips pursed. Matty absently fiddled with the pen as if she were nervous.
"I won't tell Halil if you don't." Matty offered. The man blinked at her as if he didn't know what to make of her. Matty smiled sweetly.
"I..I could go for a beer, light though I'm on a cleanse...but of course now that you're going to murder us, I guess a healthy colon's not gonna matter…"
"Bozer!" Matty looked over at Bozer. The smile never left her face, but she shook her head minutely a message in her eyes. Bozer rubbed sweat off his face and nodded.
"Strong and silent, strong and silent, strong…" Bozer muttered under his breath. Matty smiled at the soldier.
"He babbles when he's nervous," Matty explained. She made a show of leaning forward and staring out the window as if lost in thought or worry. Matty frowned. They were taking back roads to the Littleton's Pharmacy. As they passed the exit to the Parkway, Matty glanced out Bozer's window surprised. There was a mega-car pileup, looked like more than 50 cars. Police and ambulance lights flickered like Christmas tree lights, and many of the drivers were out of their cars yelling and waving their arms dramatically. Matty smiled, that would work in their favor.
"Holy crap! Looks like an 80 car pile up on the parkway." Bozer said turning to look out his window. Matty slid forward, pushing to stand on the carpet. She waited clicking her pen. The soldier's eyes shifted over to Bozer. Matty was in motion before he could look back. She jumped, grabbed a handful of the soldier's shirt with her right hand wielding the pen in her left. Andru's eyes went wide as Matty scored the unprotected notch above the joining of his collar bones. Matty gritted her teeth and added as much pressure as she could. There was resistance than a soft pop. Adru dropped the gun, his hands instinctively going to his bleeding neck as he tried to breathe. The driver yelled in Bosnian the limo spun out of control as he turned raising his gun.
"Bozer down!" Matty yelled as she let go of the slumping Andru and
crouched. Bozer flopped to the floor, his eyes wide as plates.
"What the hell are you doing?" Bozer's voice was a high-pitched squeal of panic. Bullets shattered all the windows above them. Matty covered her head and grabbed Adru's fallen rifle. She managed to keep her feet as the limo slid across the road in the opposite direction. Matty took a deep breath and peeked out the window. The wind whipped her hair back. She smiled. They were skidding along a sandy berm lined with concrete Jersey barriers that were about 20 feet from the street. It would have to do.
"Bozer! Go!"
"Go? GO? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Matty rolled her eyes. Matty reached over opened the door on the other side of Bozer then pushed him out. The car skidded as the driver turned to shoot at Matty. The gunfire blew black holes in the white leather over her head. Matty straightened and fired a long burst gritting her teeth at the recoil of the gun against her chest and arms. It'd been a long time since she'd been in the field. The driver fired the same time as Matty. Matty's aim was better catching the guy in the head. His bullets shot holes through the roof. The limo veered toward oncoming traffic. Matty tossed the rifle aside and jumped out the door swinging open. She tucked into a ball, blew air out and forced her body to relax. Matty hit hard and rolled in circles until stopped abruptly by a cement barrier. She flopped back closing her eyes as the sky above her continued to circle. Matty moaned and rubbed her forehead. She wasn't surprised when she saw her fingers were stained with blood. Matty gritted her teeth and pushed herself up. She staggered to her feet leaning against the cement barrier.
"Bozer?" Matty called. She blinked blood out of her eyes. The limo had managed not to hit anyone but blocked the other lane. Matty winced her left knee felt like she'd twisted and sprained it. Her eyes widened, and she broke into a shambling run. Bozer laid unmoving on the sandy berm. Matty knelt beside him. "Bozer? Wilt?" Bozer groaned and rolled over holding his right shoulder. He blinked up at Matty. His eyes were widened.
"Matty! You ok?" Bozer sat up fast and flopped back down. "Damn!" Matty smiled down and sat beside the younger man.
"Let me see." She said helping Bozer to lay on his back. Matty pressed gently along his shoulder. Bozer's eyes widened, and he hissed in pain. "I think your shoulder's dislocated." Bozer smiled.
"Good, that's all." Matty chuckled and patted Bozer on his good shoulder. She looked up knowing there wouldn't be any police coming anytime soon. Matty bent and helped Bozer to his feet steadying him. His mouth dropped open as he stared at the mayhem they'd just caused.
"Are you alright, Bozer?" Matty asked. Bozer looked down at her and grinned.
"Did you see that? That was awesome!" Matty sighed with relief. She turned guiding Bozer to the side of the road. She glanced at the traffic creeping by and the startled faces. Bozer grimaced leaning forward. "Awesome, but painful." He gasped going pale.
"Bozer, look pathetic?" Matty said leaning against him to help keep both of them standing. Bozer turned a shade green.
"What?" Bozer squeaked. He turned and puked on the berm.
"That'll do," Matty muttered as she waved desperately at a car carrying two old ladies. They pulled up, and the passenger rolled down her window. She was a lean African-American in a lavender suit. She glared at Matty.
"I have a weapon and can drop you where you stand." She growled. Her dark eyes were hard as marbles. Matty smiled.
"I believe you, please can you give us a ride? The ambulances won't be here for a long time and…" Matty turned as Bozer who straightened and offered a weak smile. The woman's face softened. She turned and talked to the driver, a younger woman who's features mirrored the elder woman. The woman turned and nodded.
"Thank you so much." Matty gushed turning to help Bozer into the car. Horns honked behind them as Matty shut the door and slid closer to Bozer making him more comfortable. The older woman turned in her seat studying them. Matty pulled her belt off and made a sling for Bozer. It was barely long enough, but Matty made do.
"I'm Charlette Brunfield; this is my daughter, Carol." Matty glanced up at the pair.
"I'm Matty, and this is Wilt."
"We can be at Good Sam in ten minutes." The driver said glancing at the pair through the rear view mirror.
"That's fantastic, thank you so much," Matty said sitting beside Bozer with a grateful sigh.
"Is this your son?" Charlette asked.
"No." "Yes," Bozer and Matty said at the same time. Matty shot Bozer a raised eyebrow. He looked away with a small shrug. Matty smiled back at the older woman.
"He is a friend," Matty said sweetly.
"Who is like a son." Bozer wheezed. Matty's pursed mouth glare shut Bozer up. Matty glanced at the mother and daughter hoping they wouldn't throw them out.
The older woman smiled and raised her hands touching the palms, she reached out and touched her daughter on the shoulder.
"Isn't that sweet, Carol. I bet he's a beautiful boy."
"He is," Matty admitted. Bozer grinned up at her. The smile vanished when she shot him a sideways look; He looked out the window.
"Is he single?" The older woman asked receiving a glare from her daughter. Bozer's head whipped around, and he gaped at Matty his eyes silently pleading. Matty grinned and put a loving hand on Bozer's good shoulder.
"He is." The older woman leaned forward her hands rubbing together like a horse trader.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Jack sucked in air as the limo screeched to a halt in a parking space in front of Littleton's Pharmacy. He closed his eyes taking a mental tally of body parts as he slowly unwound his cramped hands from the door frame of the limo. They had lost the door about two miles back. Jack thought that might have been his third cardiac arrest, but he wasn't sure.
"C'mon," Riley muttered as she angrily kicked the dented driver's door trying to make it open. Jack shook his head and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Jack finally forced his cramped body to move and undid his seat belt. Jack yelped as he flopped out of the door onto the cement sidewalk. Jack groaned and slowly sat up. Every muscle and bone felt like it'd been shaken apart in a blender. Riley cursed as she slid across the seat and climbed out of the passenger side door and stepped over Jack. She leaned back and popped her vertebrae back into alignment. "Jack, you ok?" She bent over him. Jack squinted up at her and frowned.
"When did you start having three heads?" Jack mumbled. Riley smiled and grabbed his hand pulling him up. Jack leaned on his knees taking deep breaths. He reached in and retrieved the M5. Straightening Jack nodded at Riley and led the way to the pharmacy. A small group of women Riley's age pointed at them then scurried across the street dashing past them. Jack smiled relieved they didn't need the complication of innocent bystanders.
The pharmacy was dark. In the front window, a large sign said, "closed for renovations." Jack ducked and peeked in the window. Through the ornate lettering, he saw nothing move. He nodded at Riley as he stepped to enter. Riley bent and had the door open in seconds. Jack stepped in front of her and cleared the room. Everything was gone, even the shelves. Somehow it was the final desecration of Jin Yu's life, an erasing of all she had been. Jack blinked back a flush of tears and cleared his throat. He felt a soft hand on his shoulder. He looked down to see a concerned Riley silently offering support. Jack felt his heart fill with a fondness for the girl. He reached down and patted her hand nodding. She smiled back. They crept in and studied the counter a long minute. There was still no movement. It took Riley more time to pick the security lock leading through the thick protection glass. Jack cleared the back room, the small bathroom, and tiny office. Everything was gone, every pill, bottle, bag, and box. Jack frowned wondering why they took the toilet seat?
"Nothing here, where else would they go?" Riley asked. Jack blew out a long breath and shook his head.
"The Jins apartment?" He suggested. Before he could speak, his phone's loud fog horn blared. Both Jack and Riley jumped then looked at each other as they sucked in air.
"You have got to get Mac to change that!" Riley groused.
"Yeah…" Jack's voice trailed off, and his face paled as he answered the phone. Riley felt her gut clench and automatically reached out to grab his forearm terror in her eyes. "What! No...yeah, we're on our way." Jack was already running out the door, Riley on his heels. Jack smashed the window of the closest car, a Porsche and had it squealing away before Riley could slam the passenger's door closed.
"We have to get to Phoenix, now," Jack explained. His jaw clenched, his knuckles blanched white as he strangled the leather wheel, shifted and coaxed more speed out of the growling engine. Horns howled around them. Riley snapped her belt on, one hand held onto the oh-shit handle, the other braced against the dash. Jack drove just as recklessly as Riley but had infinitely more skill and practice. He only brushed the side of three cars as he sped around traffic indifferent to signs or normal traffic flow.
"Mac?" Riley yelled over the roar of the engine as Jack hit the higher gears and speeds. He shot her a look of horror and fear but said nothing. Riley gritted her teeth. "Can't you go any faster?"
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Sally paused a long minute before entering Mac's room. Mac was having a hard time staying awake and was now too weak to do more than mumble a few words. The fear in his eyes told her he was still perfectly lucid and knew he was almost out of time. Sally angrily brushed away tears and composed her face to one of steadiness and calm. She tapped on the door. Mac's eyes opened, and he offered a weak smile. He waved his fingers at her.
"Hey." He mumbled.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Mac snorted weakly, and he shot her a frail snarky grin.
"Fantastic." He whispered. Mac closed his eyes and shivered. Sally reached forward and pulled the pile of blankets up and tucked them in tighter. They'd had a hard time keeping Mac warm. "You going home?" He whispered. She crouched fighting not to show the wailing pain she felt in her heart.
"I have to take Sam home, but I am coming right back." Mac looked down and his eyes brimmed with tears. Sally grabbed his shoulder and gave him a gentle shake. "Right back, you got me?" He studied her face unable to erase his sadness. He gave her an attempt at a smile.
"I'll be here." He murmured.
"You better be!" Sally growled. Mac nodded and closed his eyes. Sally sighed. She doubted it was because of fatigue. His cheek flinched when she gave him a peck on his cheek. "Be back soon." She whispered in his ear, as she brushed his hair back. Mac nodded unable to stop a tiny trickle of tears from running out the corner of his eyes. Sally swallowed and left almost at a run. She'd be back in record time.
After her footsteps had retreated, Mac opened his eyes. He managed to raise a shaking hand up to brush away the tears.
"Dammit." He grumbled feeling exhaustion pull him asleep. He fought it. Mac knew he might not make it past tonight; he'd be damned if he was going to sleep through whatever time he had left. Mac focused on the unit. There had been a couple of other employees in and out since he'd been there, both had popped in and out. A growing forest of flowers bloomed around him filling the room with a pleasant floral scent. Someone had even found a mylar balloon of a paper clip. He watched it drift in the air current. The rhythmic swaying relaxed him. Mac blinked his eyes and shook his head fighting sleep.
He could hear Lenny's voice and recognized the new numbers of his weight, pulse, and fluids as the medic talked to someone on the phone. Mac swallowed tuning them out figuring that by this time it didn't matter. Unless Jack came up with something soon…? Mac licked his lips desperately wishing his friends were here, that he wouldn't be alone when...Mac rubbed his face again forcing his mind away from going in that direction. Did he want to do that to his friends, his family?
Mac's eyes snapped up when he heard a distinct thud of a body hitting the tile outside his room. His heart pounded as he struggled to move. He desperately looked around him looking for a weapon, anything. He fell back chugging in air, his body shaking from the effort even that tiny amount of movement cost. The tapping of dress shoes on tile came closer, unhurried. Mac gasped as a tall blond man stood in the door way. Although he'd never seen the man, he'd seen the guy's file.
Halil Gauric stepped into the room holding a small can as he smoked a cigarette. Mac's throat strangled shut as he saw what was in the can-lighter fluid. Gauric turned on the over head light making Mac squint. The man puffed on the cigarette then blew the smoke out above Mac's body. Halil turned his head studying Mac.
"I think I'll have to stop and get a sample of the pollution you fell into on my way out." Mac frowned his tired brain taking a minute to translate the heavily accented English.
"How do you know about that?" Mac whispered. Halil laughed and took in another pull of smoke.
"The walls have ears, MacGyver. It is fascinating how rapidly the neurotoxin is working in you typically it takes months to reach this level of debilitation-fantastic! It will help my product sell even better, thank you for that."
"What-" Mac's speech halted as he sucked in air. Gauric leaned down and smiled face to face with Mac.
"Shhhh. Save your breath. You might need it." Gauric stood and without another word sprayed Mac's bed with lighter fluid. Mac gasped desperately reaching out for the IV beside him. Gauric reached out and pushed Mac's arm under the covers and tucked the edges in effectively rendering Mac helpless. Mac wriggled desperately. Gauric threw the empty can on the bed and walked to the door. He turned.
"Amazing." Halil flicked his cigarette and left. Mac watched the glowing butt spin in the air as it flew directly onto his bed. Mac screamed.