Disclaimer: I don't own MacGyver.

A/N: I don't know about you guys, but I'm definitely going through MacGyver withdrawals. Here's a new chapter to help tide us over until our show returns in a few weeks. Enjoy!

A Not So Merry Christmas-Chapter 3

"Murdoc," Jack bites out as he looks around the nurses' station trying to see if Murdoc showed up to see Mac in this precarious condition with his own eyes.

Murdoc lets out a sinister laugh. "So how is our boy doing? He wasn't looking too good the last time I saw him."

"It was you," Jack says. From the moment it became clear that Mac was hurt, Jack thought it may have been Murdoc who did this. Who hurt Mac. But, another part of him didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to admit that he failed protecting Mac again from the psychopath. As awful as it sounds he would have rather it been a random burglary gone wrong. And not that Murdoc got his hands on Mac once again on Jack's watch.

An all too familiar sounding gasping breath can be heard over the phone line. It's eerily similar to when Mac was gasping for air not too long ago. "You sick bastard."

Murdoc laughs again. "I hit his lung, huh?"

"When I get—"

"And that stomach wound?" Murdoc continues. "Young MacGyver won't be eating any of Mr. Bozer's culinary masterpieces any time soon."

"You're a big man hiding behind the phone. Why don't you come out and say this crap to my face, bug shot?"

"This must be killing you. I know you take your job as MacGyver's watch dog very personally. But, boy were you slacking on the job this time!" Murdoc lets out a loud whistle.

Jack slams his hand down on the nurses' desk. Several nurses stop their respective tasks to glare at him. "Sorry," Jack apologizes.

"I mean young Angus was bleeding out on Ms. Cage's floor when you all were nowhere around. If I didn't call 911 when I did, who knows. MacGyver may have very well bled out on Ms. Cage's cold, hard floor."

"I'm going to rip your head off!" Jack threatens as he ignores the scared faces looking at him.

"Dying alone. That's probably MacGyver's worst nightmare. I mean we both know the kid has abandonment issues. First, his mom dying and then his father taking off. Him dying alone would only be fitting," Murdoc says matter of factly.

The words dig into Jack deeper than any other physical wound. The last thing he wants to think about is Mac bleeding out all alone.

"You better enjoy your last moments of freedom, Murdoc. Because we're coming for you and I promise you no one is going to stop me from beating the shit out of you,"

"Too bad that will never happen. I would love to see you again, but my job here is done. As fun as this was. I better get going. I've been on this line far too long. For MacGyver's sake I hope Dr. Russo is an adequate doctor."

Jack goes cold. Not only does Murdoc know what hospital Mac is in but also the name of his doctor. Slamming the phone down, Jack rushes to the ICU. To Mac. In his rush to get to Mac, he nearly runs over Matty.

"Jack! What the hell are you doing? This is a hospital! Not a track!"

"Murdoc!" Jack rushes out, frantically looking around to see where Mac is.

"Here?!" Matty asks.

Jack shakes his head." No on the phone. He called the nurses' station and asked for me."

"What did he say?" Matty questions.

"It was him. He did this!" Jack says motioning with his hands. "He shot Mac."

"Jesus," Matty says. "Did he say anything else?"

"Bragging about his dirty work," Jack replies. He doesn't tell her how Murdoc also tortured him with the truth. That Mac got hurt on his watch and if Murdoc didn't call for help himself, that Mac could very well be in the morgue right now and not in the ICU. Matty is smart. She knows Jack has failed. She doesn't need to be reminded. Not right now when Mac is still in danger.

"Well, I can't say that I'm surprised that it was him. Now that Murdoc confirmed it was him, we don't have to chase down endless dead ends. We now know who we are looking for and we can focus all of our resources on getting Murdoc," Matty explains.

Jack nods his head, running a tired hand over his chin. "When did he doctor say we can move Mac?"

"Probably nor for another 24 hours at the earliest."

Jack shakes his head. "That won't work. We need to get him out of this hospital now."

"Um, Jack. The kid is on a ventilator and has a hole in is belly. Moving him is not going to be exactly easy."

"Murdoc knows it was Dr. Russo who operated on Mac. I don't know if he has eyes here or he has Dr. Russo in his pocket. But, I don't like keeping Mac here one second later than we have to."

For Matty nods her head. "Okay. I'm going to have Riley run a background check every one who works in this hospital. From chief of staff to the candy stripers. In the meantime, no one goes near him until they're vetted by Riley. You stick to Mac like glue."

"Like you have to ask," Jack replies.

XXXXX

Jack is fidgeting with his hands. If Mac was in this position he would be making one of his famous paperclip creations. But Mac isn't. Mac's been shot and is now getting settled in the ICU. It's been about an hour since Murdoc's phone call and much to his chagrin, Jack has still not seen Mac. He's going stir crazy. He needs to see that Mac is okay with his own eyes.

And with both Matty and Bozer having gone back to Phoenix with promises to be back within a few hours, Jack has been left to his own devices. Letting his worst fears and Murdoc's play havoc with him.

"Jack?" A kind voice calls him. Jack looks up to see a smiling nurse standing in front of him. "My name is Becky. I'm one of the ICU nurses who have been working with your friend. You ready to see Mr. MacGyver?"

Jack jumps up. "Oh yeah. Lead the way."

Jack follows Becky for the short walk towards a set of clear-walled cubicles. He stops when they near Mac's taking in the sight of the still form of his partner. "Oh, Mac."

"He's hanging in there," Becky says. "He's holding his own. Don't let all the wires and tubes scare you. They're there to help him."

Jack nods his head, but his eyes can't help but go to the ventilator that's sticking out of Mac's mouth.

Becky can see what Jack is focusing on. "Ventilators kind of go hand in hand when there's a pneumothorax. So, don't let that scare you. We just want to give his lungs a break for a bit."

Jack nods, but stays where he is for another minute. Mac may be oblivious to everything that's going on. But, Jack isn't. He knows damn why Mac is here. Jack didn't do his job.

"Come on," Becky presses. "Your friend is waiting for you."

Jack takes a deep breath. He can do this. Mac was alone before. But, Jack won't let him be alone again. He won't let Mac wake up all alone.

He cautiously steps into Mac's ICU cubicle and takes the seat that Becky has pushed next to Mac's bedside. "Here you go. I'll leave you guys alone. Let me know if you need anything," Becky says as she turns to leave the area.

Looking at Mac this close, Jack can't help but be shocked by the kid's appearance. He knew it was bad. He saw Mac bleeding out in Cage's apartment and watched as the paramedics shoved a tube down Mac's throat. But, that's nothing compared to how Mac looks now. Mac's usually tan face is almost as pale as the sheets he's lying on. There are deep, blue bruises under Mac's close eyes. And he's still. Too still. His hands are constantly in motion are lying limply at his side.

Jack picks up the hand that's closest to him and almost drops it when he feels how cold it is. Regaining his grip, he squeezes the slack fingers. "I know I wasn't there before when you needed me," Jack says, his voice cracking. He gives Mac's fingers another squeeze. "But, I'm here now, Mac."