Hi friends! I'm so sorry for not updating sooner. I hope you guys are still with me. On with the next chapter. Sorry for mistakes.

Enjoy :-)))

"If we don't get that thing out in 48 hours. I'm afraid it will kill you"

Jack's eyes widened matching the ones with Mac. The young man's trembling hands roamed over his stomach and gulped down the heavy lump. He could feel a live bomb was ticking in his stomach, ready to explode any second and snatch the life out of him. His breathing quickened and he struggled to take a single breath in.

Jack was equally shocked. He had faced so many difficult situation in his life but this was totally different. Was this even medically possible? No wonder the kid is suffering so much. Jack noticed the sudden change beside him and shifted in his seat to see the boy hyperventilating "Mac? Hey breathe kid"

Mac felt his head was spinning. He could hear his hearbeats that were hammering in his chest. His eyes blurred with salt water "Jack.."

"I'm right here bud" Jack placed a comforting hand on his shoulder "You heard the man. We're going to get that thing out and you'll be fine"

Mac closed his eyes and concentrated on Jack's voice who kept on murmuring soft words until he got his breathing under control. The boy was exhausted and he curled himself into fetal position. Jack rubbed his back feeling helpless than ever "How far are we?" he asked Ryan

"Twenty minutes more. Is he okay?"

Jack wanted to yell at Ryan for asking silly question. How can anyone be fine when there's a freaking chip in your stomach that's slowly killing you "Just drive faster" he replied

Ryan nodded "Don't let him sleep. Keep talking to him or else..."

Out of nowhere came a huge truck that brutally collided with their van. Mac and Jack jerked in surprise and then found themselves rolling in the van for atleast six times before it came to a halt.

The van was turned upside down and so were its passengers. Silence was scaring Jack more than the pain that shot through his entire body. His shoulder was hurting the most where it got repeatedly hit during the crash. He felt disoriented for few seconds before he shook his head and collected himself. His first instinct was to check on his friend but there was so much smoke that he couldn't even see where Mac was "Ma.." he coughed covering his mouth with his arm "Mac?"

"Right... here" came a groaned reply and Jack sighed in relief

"Are you alright?"

"I...think so but...I can't...move"

This was not the answer Jack was hoping to hear "Okay...no problem. Stay where you are"

Mac grunted "Don't have much of a choice"

The smoke cleared a bit and Jack saw Mac's leg was pinned under the seat and he was literally hanging upside down. The older agent then pulled the seat with both hands "Try moving!" he yelled

Mac nodded and forced his body to work. The impact of accident had temporary made him forget about the pain in his stomach. He cried out when he pulled his leg under the seat and landed on the roof of the van. He bit his inner cheek so hard that it drew blood

Jack looked around to find a way to get out of the van when his eyes fell on the front seats "Oh my God" he whispered.

"What happened?"

"Ryan and the driver are dead"

"What? Are you sure?"

"We need to get out if here Mac. C'mon" Jack moved in the small cramped place and started kicking at the door which flew open after few kicks. Jack crawled his way out and inhaled the fresh breeze. He then worked on getting his friend out who couldn't stop grunting and hissing every few seconds. When Mac was out his whole body was shaking and movements became sluggish. Jack held his partner close to him and searched his pockets. He needed to call Matty and get help as soon as possible

"Don't move" came a new voice. Jack froze, his hands tightening around Mac protectively. He looked at his side and found themselves on the gun point of three men "Who are you?"

"Step away from the kid" said the man closest to Jack "He's coming with us"

Mac clutched Jack's shirt afraid he was going to get separated from his friend. Three men with guns was no match for them, especially when Jack was hurt and he was experiencing stomach cramps.

Jack on the other hand glared at the three men. They were here for the chip that was in Mac's stomach. He had had enough. There was no way he was going to let these men take Mac away from him. It was time to put all his years of training into action "Stay put" he whispered to Mac

What happened next was blur to Mac. At first Jack held his hands in surrender and then suddenly gave a swift kick at the man's leg who fell on the ground. He quickly grabbed the gun and fired at the two men. One of them got hit on the leg while he missed the other. Jack brought down the butt of the gun on the first guy who went limp. A bullet came whooshing near him and he ducked in time. The older agent rolled on the ground and kept dodging bullets

Mac saw the threat on Jack's life and decided to help. He picked up a broken glass piece and aimed it on the man's thigh. The glass piece hit the man's thigh and he cried out in pain. Jack pulled himself up and knocked the man unconscious with his punch

"You good?" asked Jack

"For now" replied Mac "Who are they?"

"I don't know and we can't stay to find out. C'mon we need to get out of here" Jack gently hauled his friend, wrapping his arm around his shoulder "Lean on me kid. I got you"

Jack had to literally drag Mac along with him. He needed a safe place to hide and then call for help. The older agent knew whoever those men were, they were not going to stop until they get their hands on Mac. The night was getting colder and darker. Jack could feel Mac shivering beside him. Hell even he was experiencing the chills of the cold night

After walking for few minutes Mac caught Jack's arm "Stop! I can't...I can't walk...anymore" Jack nodded. He was grateful atleast Mac made it this far. He made sure they weren't being followed "Okay kid. We can take some rest under that tree. C'mon"

Jack lowered Mac on the ground who closed his eyes and let his head fall back on the tree. He streched his legs out and hands plopped to his sides feeling utterly exhausted. Jack moved few steps back and quickly pulled out his cell to dial Matty's number

"Jack! Where are you? I've been trying to contact you for last three hours"

Jack ran a hand on his face "Yeah change of plans. You've to come get us Matty. This is an emergency"

"Emergency? What's going on? Where are you guys? Is Mac okay?" Matty fired questions on hearing Jack's worried voice

"They have hidden a freaking chip in Mac's stomach! He doesn't have much time left. We need to get that thing out"

Matty frowned "Chip in Mac's stomach? What the hell are you talking about?"

"The doctor that operated Mac implanted him with a chip. The same damn chip that Rodney stole from the military base"

"What?!"

Jack explained how the military guys came for Mac and then about the accident "Matty you've to hurry. Mac is not looking good"

"Where are you?"

"I don't know the exact location. It's somewhere near the military base. Please hurry"

"We're on our way Jack. Take care of Mac"

Jack nodded "I won't let anything happen to him" he pressed the red button and turned back around. He saw Mac's eyes were closed and remembered Ryan's words. Mac shouldn't fall asleep. Jack knelt down and placed his hand on Mac's shoulder to wake him up but the boy just slumped down to his side

"MAC!"

Please leave a review :-)))