Hello, my fellow readers! Here are a few clarifications for the story that some readers didn't understand. But, don't feel bad at all! You are helping me improve my story!. The first one is when Mac had bruises on his left side. That happened when Carter got upset with him at the beginning of the story and pushed him very hard into a table. For the next one, Mac gets knocked out in the building, causing the blood on the back of his head, because Carter sneaks in while he is going in there and does it out of frustration, or whatever reason bullies bully. Sorry I didn't put that in there. Thank you also so much for all of the support; it means a lot! Onwards...
Jack stepped forward to touch the bruises only to be stopped with Mac's hiss of pain, "Now, those are not from bumping into a table and definitely not from falling. You tell me right now what happened, or I will go door to door interrogatin' people. So, what is it going to be?"
Mac sighed. This was not going to be fun.
Mac thought of all the possible reasons he could have gotten bruised. One that made sense, but that wasn't too simple or complicated. He also couldn't incriminate anyone specifically, even if it was an enemy. He had the perfect excuse.
"Sorry, Jack. I didn't want to tell you," Mac paused, wanting to get every detail correct, "Do you remember when we were under attack when we went to that village last week?"
Jack stepped forward after Mac spoke, wanting to get every single detail he could possibly get, "Mac, stop leaving out details! What village was it, kid?"
Mac felt the blood on his scalp, which the doctors hadn't seen yet. He could touch his head, pull his hand away, then accidentally show the doctor and Jack the blood that would be on his hand. He didn't like doctors taking care of him, but it was better than lying to Jack.
So, he went with it. Mac went to ruffle his hair, as if it was frustration, but then pulled it away and "tried" to hide it. The doctor saw it- yes!- and gave a surprised look.
The doctor stepped forward to look at his head, but Mac pulled back, "Angus MacGyver, let me see your wound that you obviously didn't tell us about. Now."
Jack gave the same surprised then angry look like the doctor. This caused Mac to let the doctor in his space and check his head. He put his fingers exactly right next to the wound and Mac let out a hiss of pain. The doctor kept on going, ignoring his pain, probably because of Mac not letting him see it in the first place.
The doctor finally responded, "Are you sure you don't feel dizzy, nauseous, or confusion? This looks pretty bad back here, do you know what you were hit with?"
Yes. It is working, Mac thought.
"Yes and no. I feel fine and I passed out right when I got hit. Can I have my shirt? It is getting really cold in here," Mac said, trying to fight to stop the shivering.
Jack stepped forward, really worried now, "Mac, it is 87℉ in this room, are you okay?"
Jack suddenly noticed that Mac was cold and shivering. He gave back Mac's shirt and his tac gear. He was still cold in an 87 degree room. Something was definitely wrong.
"Rodriguez?" Jack started to say more, but then Mac fell down into Jack's arms before he could hit the floor.
They immediately started to get Mac into a vehicle, pulse strong and steady, surprisingly. What they didn't know was that the head injury had been worse than they expected. When Rodriguez, Jack, and Mac got to the base, they treated his head wound and got strong medicine for him. When he would wake up. They just had to wait for now, with Jack by his side the whole time.
1 Week Later
It had been a week and Mac was ready to go out in the field. Jack would administer his medicine- thankfully not Carter, since they were all now in a unit together with him- and make sure he was okay. The week had not been pleasant. Carter had stole his medicine, not allowing Mac to heal, and sometimes hurting him more than already.
Right now, Mac and Jack were getting ready for the next mission. Mac had a bomb ready so they could put it in an enemy's main camp. It wouldn't be that hard. Jack kept on glancing at his partner to make sure he was definitely okay for said mission. But, he was as ready as he could be, because of his state.
Carter entered the room and started getting ready too. He didn't look at any of his partners the whole time; afraid of what it might bring. Mac had an uneasy feeling and look, which Jack, thankfully, did not see.
"Alright, I am going to go to the vehicle. You guys good?" Jack said after he was done getting ready.
They both gave a nod, prompting Jack to leave the room. Now, Carter looked at Mac. He saw the way he held his side when he bent down and wondered if his superiors knew and didn't tell him yet. He wasn't going to take that chance.
"Hey, you tell them anything?" when Mac didn't respond, Carter continued, "I asked you a question. I would like you to answer it. Now."
Mac nodded and did a mental eye roll. This wasn't going to happen. Not now before a mission! To make sure he knew, he also said yes while he nodded, making sure to not give Carter a reason to beat him up.
"Are you sure? Because everywhere I go, people keep on looking at me. Superiors. And Jack. You know the consequences when you lie, right?"
"Yes, I do. I promise I haven't told anyone. Whatever has happened stays between me and you. Even though I don't even know why you're doing it," Mac said, mumbling the last part under his breath trying not to let his partner hear it, but he apparently did because he got an elbow in the ribs. His healing ribs.
Mac bit his lip to not scream, then tasted blood. He didn't feel well now, if he even did in the first place. To get out quicker, Mac just took his stuff with him so he could put it on on the way there.
And, right behind him, was Carter, "Hey. You do not walk out on me when we are having a conversation."
"That is what you call a conversation? Then what is a fight?" Mac said, bracing himself for the punch that came next in the same spot as before in the ribs.
And, of course, that is when Jack decided to make his presence known. When Mac was doubled over in pain almost having a hard time breathing.
Carter sure played his part well, "Oh, Mac. Are you okay? Where does it hurt so I can take a look at it?"
Jack wasn't buying any of it, "What just happened here? Is there something I need to know about that affects my partners' safety? Please, let me know."
Mac didn't say anything. Neither did Carter. They both stood there, Mac slightly still bending over. Jack immediately pulled out some pills and water and gave them to Mac.
"I ask again, what happened?" after no one responded after the second time, Jack went on his radio, "Can I please have Commander Easton over here as conveniently as possible?"
Jack looked at both of the men in front of him. They still didn't move or talk. Something was definitely up.
"Mac, lift up your shirt, please," Jack said, not moving one inch from his current spot.
Mac didn't move either, "No, thank you. I'll pass."
Jack laughed silently to himself, "FIne, let's just wait and see what Commander Easton says. I am your only easy way out right now. Unless you want to make it hard for yourself."
As if cued, their commander showed up pretty quickly, eliciting salutes and no slouches from everyone until he told them to be at ease.
"Men, what is going on? I only have a few minutes, so make it quick," Commander Easton said very firmly.
"Sir, I just came around the corner to grab both of my men," Jack said pointing to Mac and Carter, "and Mac was doubled over in pain, not one explanation from either."
"I know you guys will talk to a commander now, right? That would be pretty disappointing if you didn't." the Commander said.
Mac didn't feel well, but still answered, "I am still hurting from the injury and I didn't want to tell anyone so I could go on the mission."
Jack and Commander Easton knew that he was lying, "I want an honest answer right this second, young man."
Mac looked at them. What would happen if he told them the truth? Carter would probably have him pinned to the wall in seconds. But, he had Jack. So…. But…..
"Sir, another person in this camp has been hurting me. I told Carter to promise he wouldn't tell anyone. He did and that is why he froze like me," Mac said, switching roles temporarily.
"Who?" Jack said, knowing it would probably be a lie. But, Mac didn't say anything.
"Angus MacGyver, tell your superior right now," a mad Commander Easton said.
Mac was hurting more from the punch. He was trying not to show it. But, of course, Jack saw it.
"Commander Easton, I suggest moving this to medical. It looks like MacGyver is hurting more from whatever happened," Jack said, trying to help his friend with the pain.
"Nope, we have medical right here," the commander said, pulling out many first-aid kits from his vehicle, "Take your shirt off, MacGyver."
"Pilot: What's he doing? Jack: He's being MacGyver."
Hello, again, readers! That is, yet again, another chapter of Lie or Else. *Da Da Da!* I love writing this story, so it is going to be longer. I, however, don't know if I should put more times in the military as a continuation in this story, or create a whole nother thing. I would appreciate your advice! :-) Thank you, I shall go to bed now. \(0)ノ. BYE!