Mac gasped in pain as he bent and slid his well-worn jeans over his swollen knee. He laid back panting feeling cold sweat drip down his face. Mac forced his beaten body to keep moving. His fractured ribs screamed as he bent and refastened the metal brace. He sat on the side of the bed and rubbed his sore shoulder. Strained muscles, nothing broken, Dr. Grant had said. Mac leaned forward letting the soft air blowing in his bedroom window cool his damp skin. He winced as he rubbed his eyes. Mac was tired of pain. He was tired of memories. He was tired...just tired. He shook his head. Between the sedation medicine and concussion, his emotions were all over the place.
Mac grimaced pulling his navy T-Shirt over his head. He rubbed his aching chest. Considering he faced four guys with lead pipes, he'd gotten off reasonably well. Mac thought of Evaline and the terror in her eyes as she rattled off Russian at him. Mac frowned. Why had she been so terrified? What was she escaping? An image of a blurry face looking down at him blared across his vision. Mac's eyes widened and his back arched. He scanned his room his heart pounding fast and loud in his ears. He forced himself to take deep breaths. There is no way it is Krilov, Mac told himself. He believed Jack, but there was always that niggling fear, shame that wouldn't go away. Mac found himself leaning forward his arms across his chest. He shook his head. No...he will not go there. Never there. Mac coughed, his throat dry. No, there was no way it was Kilov, but someone loomed over him when he was semi-conscious. Mac didn't know what about the blurry face reminded him of Kilov. Maybe there was a clue there? Mac cried out and leaped as someone knocked on his bedroom door. He leaned forward and wiped his forehead.
"C...come in!" Mac cleared his throat hating how it warbled in the middle leaking out fear. Jack peeked in the door. Mac smiled, "C'mon in Jack. I'm fine. The sedation's worn off." Jack narrowed his eyes studying Mac. Mac's eyes darted away. He had no idea how he was going to face the others. His over reaction was stupid. He couldn't stop the flinch as Jack sat beside him. Mac knew Jack noticed, but he didn't say anything.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather rest for the night?" The older man asked. Mac shook his head and sighed. He looked over at Jack. He knew Jack could see the thin string holding him together.
"Evalina was terrified, Jack. Something is going on, and her loved ones deserve answers." Jack gave him a penetrating look.
"Are you sure they're the ones that need answers." Mac looked down and ran a hand through his hair.
"I know it isn't Krilov." Mac murmured. He heard Jack let out a pent-up breath.
"But?" Jack prompted after a long silence. Mac met his gaze and shook his head.
"I don't know. There was a guy who looked down at me. I couldn't make out his face...I think he might have said something in Russian?" Mac shook his head and leaned forward rubbing his temples.
"And this made you think of Krilov?" Mac squirmed under his partner's worry. Mac shrugged and wiped his face with his hands.
"Did you get the crutches?" Mac frowned when Jack looked away.
"Yeah, Sally dropped them off. Are you sure you can use them with your bum shoulder?"
"I'll manage. Why didn't Sally come in to see me?"
"You wanted to see Sally?" Jack asked surprised. He stood up and reached out the door pulling in a set of metal crutches. Mac watched him confused. The truth was he didn't want or need to see Sally, but why was Jack so evasive?
"Why are you acting weird?" Mac asked. Jack paused and looked down and tapped his fist against the door frame.
"The truth is, Mac. She didn't want to see you." Mac leaned back.
"Why?"
"What do you remember?" Mac felt his heart drop.
"What did I do?"
"It isn't your fault; you were messed up on the sedation and freaking out big time."
"Jack…"
"You slapped her, gave her a bloody lip. She'll be fine." Mac sighed. Sally had always been ready to help him no matter what the circumstances. Mac had to find a way to make it up to her. Although Mac admitted to himself, the thought of never dealing with the sneaky nurse did have a certain allure. Voices erupted in the house, breaking his train of thought., "the others are here, you ready?" Mac looked up and nodded. He pulled himself up and swung into motion. His shoulder screamed at him with every movement. Mac gritted his teeth and braced himself. He wasn't ready for everyone freezing and staring at him as if he was about to explode. Mac forced a smile.
"Hey, guys." He said. Bozer grinned and stepped forward giving Mac a gentle hug. Mac consciously kept himself from stiffening. The round of hugs he got from Riley and Cage almost physically hurt. He shook and broke out into a clinging cold sweat. Cage paused eyeing him with a frown. Mac managed a semblance of a smile, "I need to sit down." He murmured. Cage smiled and helped Riley clear a path for Mac to hop and slide to the couch. Boze helped him sit.
"Thanks." He said leaning back taking a deep breath. Bozer and Riley grinned down at him. Cage had a speculative look that made him twitch. Mac glanced over at Matty who was studying him closely. She and Jack shared a look. Mac rubbed his forehead. Jack had told their boss, marvelous.
"So what did you find?" Mac asked sharply snapping everyone from their observations about him. Riley sat beside him. Mac moved away before he realized it. Riley glanced at him then looked at Jack. Jack sat down on the other side of Mac making sure to leave room between them.
"We ran the VIN of the burnt car to a Karen and Henry Oswald. Their last known address was Kiev, Ukraine." Mac leaned back frowning.
"Mac?" Bozer asked. Jack smiled. Bozer was watching Mac's every move waiting for any sign of distress.
"The four guys last night were speaking Ukrainian...Riley, did you run them through Interpol?"
"I ran them through everything; I couldn't find anything except this." She pulled up a Facebook page that showed an average couple arm and arm in front of a mobile home.
"Had a great vacation, great to see Europe, love Kiev…" Jack read. He glanced at Mac.
"Exactly what you'd expect to find," Jack said. Bozer shot a gaze at the men.
"Why are you saying that like it means something?"
"It's the kind of generic thing someone puts out there to cover a lot of travel," Matty said.
"So Mr. and Mrs. Soccer Mom are spies?" Riley asked. Jack shrugged.
"I've seen weirder, one time in Berlin there was this cat breeder…"
"Jack!" Matty snapped.
"What? Why do you always yell at me?" Matty rolled her eyes. She sat back farther in the recliner.
"If they are spies, what do they want here?" Matty asked.
"And what do they have to do with this Evangelina…"
"Evalina." Mac automatically corrected. He looked over at Riley then down at his feet, "Riley, show me the crime scene photos."
"Oh no, bud! You don't have…" Jack began. Mac closed his eyes but couldn't help ducking back at the man's raised voice. Jack took a calming breath, "Mac, you don't know…" Mac smiled weekly at Jack then turned to Riley. Riley's eyes darted around the room finally resting on Jack. Jack shrugged and leaned forward rubbing his face with his right hand. Riley nodded and pulled up the photos watching Mac out of the corner of her eye.
Mac leaned forward and stared at the screen his face impassive. The others shared worried glances.
"Mac? You ok?" Jack asked quietly. Mac didn't answer. His eyes had a faraway look. Jack straightened, "Mac?" Mac looked at him blankly then blinked he smiled.
"It isn't her."
"What?" Jack said his eyebrows raised. Mac leaned forward and pointed at the laptop's screen.
"See this? It's the wrong kind of jacket. And her jeans were darker."
"But Mac, it was dark out, and there wasn't a lot of light," Matty said standing up. Mac turned to face the diminutive woman.
"Did the coroner find earrings or a nose ring?"
"No, nothing like that," Riley said. Mac sat back and rubbed his furrowed brow.
"Evalina had six earrings in each ear, one in her nose and a knuckle duster's worth on each hand." The room was quiet as everyone processed that.
"You know, Mac. Nick and I have been working on a new facial reconstruction program. I bet we could build a composite." Bozer said. Mac nodded. He closed his eyes and nodded.
"Why don't the rest of us make up something to eat?" Cage asked. Matty and Jack looked at her like she was insane. Cage tipped her head toward the kitchen. Jack glanced over at Mac who was holding his head in his hands.
"I agree, you need to eat something, bud." Mac nodded, "and take some pain pills." Mac looked up at Jack with a raised eyebrow but didn't argue. Jack shook his head and joined Matty and Cage in the kitchen. He crossed his arms and waited, keeping a subtle eye on his partner.
"What is it?" Matty demanded. Cage glanced at Mac and turned to Jack.
"This is not good for him."
"No kidding," Jack growled. Cage leaned forward and put a hand on Jack's shoulder.
"No, Jack, I mean really bad for him. His reaction yesterday...he saw or knows something about this but can't remember it clearly. His brain is trying to tell him, but he's stuck somewhere in his past that…"
"So what's your point?" Jack snarled glaring at her. Cage drew back.
"We need to help him remember."
"No," Jack said narrowing his eyes.
"How would we do that?" Matty asked.
"No, Matty." His voice had gone calm, flat. Matty met his deadly gaze with a sad smile.
"Jack, we won't do anything to hurt him…"
"Good, nice talk." Jack spun to go in the living room. Cage shot Matty an exasperated look. Before Matty could reply, Bozer called out.
"Gather 'round, we got us a picture." Mac stared at the face of the girl that he'd run into last night. The amalgam of pictures didn't show the life in her dark eyes or her fear. Riley spun the laptop.
"Kinda got a Goth vibe," Jack said studying Mac. The kid looked exhausted.
"Riley?" Matty asked. Riley spun the laptop back as it beeped.
"Looks like we have Evalina Vadymivna Korzh. She and her sister went missing from Moscow two years ago. Here's her sister, Valeriva Josypivna Korzh." Riley pulled up a missing person's report from Interpol. Mac sat back frowning.
"That's not right," Mac said thoughtfully. Everyone looked at him.
"Out with it Baby Einstein." Matty snapped. Mac shook his head.
"She had a tattoo on her neck, a serpent or dragon."
"Maybe she ran away and thought it was cool?" Bozer asked frowning at Mac. Mac rubbed his face and shook his head.
"No, Boze that's not it, I don't think it was one she wanted."
"Mac?" Cage asked in exasperation. Mac looked up surprised as if he'd forgotten the others were in the room with him.
"Human traffickers give women tattoos to show ownership," Mac said sadly. The others stared at him.
"White slavery?" Cage asked.
"Makes sense. Mr. and Mrs. Soccer mom put out an ad for a housekeeper or maid. The girls apply and find themselves trapped and sold." Jack shook his head. He wanted to hurt someone.
"How the hell are we going to find Evalina?" Bozer asked. His face darkened, "Or is she dead too." Mac leaned forward stifling a moan. The others shared a worried look. He shook his head.
"I think she got away." Mac said looking up, "I think she was here to try to save her sister." Mac looked over at the laptop his brain repainting the bloody victim from last night, "only she got there too late." Mac's voice ended in a whisper. Everyone was quiet a long minute.
"So what's our next step?" Riley asked.
"Mr. and Mrs. Soccer mom." Jack murmured looking down at Mac. He turned his gaze to the others. They took the silent hint and packed up their stuff.
"It's late. We'll work it tomorrow." Matty said. Mac stared into space long after Riley stowed the laptop in her bag. The others nodded at Jack and filed out quietly talking amongst themselves. Bozer said he'd crash at Riley's and they'd try to find out what the snake tattoo meant. Jack nodded his thanks. After they were gone, he stood in front of Mac, arms crossed studying his friend.
Mac looked haunted, distant and in a pained fog. He hadn't rested since surgery. Jack sighed. He could feel tension coil within Mac. He doubted the kid could relax enough to sleep. He moved to Mac's side.
"Mac?" He asked gently. Mac still stared into space. Jack reached out and touched his shoulder. Mac exploded with a frightened cry and lept sideways to the other side of the couch. His eyes dilated, he gasped for air, and his face creased into a mask of terror.
"Easy, kiddo. It's just me." Mac nodded but still studied the room. He frowned.
"Where'd everybody go?" He asked confused. Mac shied away from Jack's scrutiny as if he could physically feel it.
"Where'd you go?" Mac hung his head in his hands and shook his head.
"It doesn't matter." He whispered. Jack was about to argue then thought better of it.
"You need to rest and take some pills." Mac gave him a tired half-grin.
"I thought you were getting them?" Jack rolled his eyes and got them. Mac stared at the pills a long minute. Jack could feel his dread.
"I'll be here, kiddo." Mac didn't look up only nodded and took the pills. He ate half the turkey sandwich then sank back eyes closed. Jack sidled to his side and paused, watching for tenseness in Mac's body. Mac only turned his head away.
"C'mon, buddy. Let me help you to bed?" Mac nodded and sat up. He put his right arm on Jack's shoulder, and Jack carefully lifted him. Mac dangled loose-limbed. Jack grunted and picked the blond up, "You are so paying for my chiropractor." Mac didn't say anything or move. Jack realized the kid had either fallen asleep or passed out. He sighed and brought his brother to bed. He took off the brace and Mac's jeans. Jack unwrapped Mac's knee wincing at the lines the wrinkled pressure bandage had left.
"Dr. Grant had done an excellent job. When his Aunt had her knee replaced she'd ended up with a thick purple scar that looked like a railway crossing. Mac's incision was a neat zig-zag tied with floss-thick black thread. It was swollen, but not reddened. Jack put cream on the incision and elevated Mac's leg on a pile of pillows. Mac mumbled and turned his head. Jack frowned and tucked the blankets around Mac. He was about to turn the lights off when Mac's mumblings got louder.
"N...no...wo...n't get...way...mrem...ber…" Jack pulled folded clothes off Mac's recliner and slid it closer. He leaned over and gently pulled Mac's bangs out of his face. Mac's face screwed up in pain, and he jerked his head away with a frightened cry. Jack scowled and took his hand. Tears ran down Mac's face as his fist painfully wrung Jack's arm. Jack reached out and began to softly rub the kid's forearm with a relaxed, slow rhythm, "Jack…" The word was almost a sob of relief. Mac rolled over and curled into a ball pulling Jack's hand to his chest as if it were the only thing keeping him from falling into an abyss.