Hey all. So, while this episode will tie up this adventure with Murdoc, one episode is not enough to conclude the journey completely for all the characters. So, think of these first three episodes as a Part I.
I have the main outline for Part II in my head already, but if there was something you were hoping to see, let me know and I'll see if I can incorporate it into my story. I hope to have the first episode of their next adventure ready by next week.
I think I know how I will ultimately bring Murdoc and MacGyver's on-going battle to an end…..or at least a conclusion.
Happy reading :)
Episode 3:
Riss came through the door.
"You didn't change?" she asked.
Peter stood up straight. "We're not playing Murdoc's games."
Riss shrugged. "Suit yourself." She motioned to four men at the door. They walked in, surrounding MacGyver and Pete. Riss and a fifth guard stood by Sam. "Take them out," she said. As they reached for him, Macgyver pulled his arms in, hoping they wouldn't search them again. So far, Riss hadn't checked the clothes left on the table. The guards marched them out. MacGyver noticed that they weren't bothering to hood them this time. Helpful, but worrisome too.
Looking around, he saw the elevator down the hall. They turned left, but Riss kept going straight with Sam and the other guard towards the elevator.
"Wait, Sam!" called out MacGyver.
"Dad!" Sam struggled against the guard holding him.
Riss called out, "He'll be joining you in a minute. Murdoc wants to see you two first. Now move it."
Riss pushed Sam forward into the elevator. She hit the next floor up and it started to move.
"So what's-" started Sam.
"Shut up," said Riss, cutting him off.
The doors opened up to a comfortable sitting room. Sam saw a woman sitting on a large red couch. She rose when he came in.
"Jeniffer?" he asked.
She nodded and held out her hand. "You must be MacGyver's son."
"Sam. Sam Malloy," said Sam shaking.
"Just sit down," said Riss, annoyed.
Sam looked back at her, trying to read her. She didn't seem like a cold killer. Maybe there was still some hope for Pete's family.
Sam sat down. The couch was facing large windows, tilted down. They looked out onto a room below with a large table, covered in rich food and candles. There were 4 chairs around the table. Murdoc was sitting in one of them. Sam watched as his Dad and Pete were brought in. As they were pushed into chairs right next to each other, clamps shot up from the arms to lock them in place. Dad had been right. He'd seen Murdoc use that trick before.
MacGyver tried not to smile. He'd guessed Murdoc would do that. That's why they'd ripped the metal buttons off Sam's spare jacket Riss had brought in, and used the wire from the paperclip to connect them into a little, flexible bar of sorts that he could push up from his sleeve. When the clamps came up, MacGyver had moved quickly to wedge it. Luckily, the clamps had no alarm, and it was thin enough that it wasn't noticeable unless you were looking for it. MacGyver wiggled slightly and felt the clamp shift. He'd at least be able to get one arm free if they needed. He hoped Pete had been able to wedge his tie-bar they found in the pile of clothes between the clamp ends, but there was no way to ask him and he didn't want to look and draw attention to it.
MacGyver looked up at Murdoc, trying to keep a look of despair on his face. Murdoc needed to feel like he'd already won if they wanted to catch him off guard. It seemed to be working. Murdoc was practically beaming at them.
"Dad," breathed Sam, moving closer to the windows to see if his Dad had been successful. The guard slammed his rifle barrel into Sam's path, but Riss pulled Sam back gently.
"They're mirrored. He can't see you, or hear you. Murdoc doesn't want any interruptions till he's ready."
Sam looked at Riss. "Riss," he said quietly. Hoping the guard couldn't hear. "I'm not going to pretend I understand you completely. But please. Do you really want this?"
Riss' face darkened as she stepped away from Sam.
"Well MacGyver, Peter, here we are!" declared Murdoc. "After the years of games and tricks and random chemistry experiments, we have come to the end. And what a mixed up end it has been. I will be honest with you Pete, it was never my intention to get our...family lines if you will...so criss-crossed, but the fates have spoken. You know, you really should be proud. I always said your talents were going to waste, and now those talents will be fully realized in my daughter, Clarissa. At least she'll do a far sight better than your son, Michael. I can't decide if your failed criminal son in jail is a bigger disappointment to you or me."
"Cut the crap Murdoc," growled Peter. "Are you shooting us, poisoning us, dropping us in a vat of acid? I'm too old, too tired and too blind to really care what you do."
"Yes, your blindness is an annoyance Peter. I've always been a visual performer, and it's hard to adapt. However, we all must make our work more accessible, and I will try to accommodate. However, don't be so hasty. I've been waiting years for this night, and we simply must take a moment to savor this. This ultimate culmination of our history!"
MacGyver started looking around the room. Murdoc caught his movement.
"Oh MacGyver, your mind is STILL moving a mile a minute. I love it, I love it! Well, first things first, what questions do you all have? I obviously have none. Sam was nice enough to tell Riss his whole, tragic story during his tour of L.A., yes, THANK YOU FOR THAT SAM!" called out Murdoc. MacGyver looked up at the mirrors. So Sam was behind one of those? Which one?
Jennifer looked over at Riss. Riss turned from her mother. She couldn't stand when her mother looked at her like that. The toxic combination of disappointment, worry, concern, love and fear was more than she could take right now. Sam's hurt and betrayed face wasn't helping either.
"So that's all your time was with us? Just a means to an end after all?" asked Sam, the bitter edge in his voice showing.
"Yes," said Riss curtly.
"But," continued Murdoc down below, "I assume you have questions. Well, Peter, do you have questions?"
"We already know what happened Murdoc. When you came back, you found out Jenny had Clarissa. You went and took her and have been keeping them both prisoner here."
"Oh, so blandly put Peter. And so many twists and dramatic flairs left out! Now, I will concede that darling Jenny has been a bit...reluctant, but she also never tried to run. See, Clarissa adores me. Unlike you MacGyver, I do check up on my old flames, and when I found Riss I saw her for the gift she was. A tenacious, clever child. A born risk taker. In fact, that's why I gave her her nickname. Jenny was trying to call her Clara, good heavens, can you imagine? She always was a little sappy."
MacGyver ignore the barb about old flames. "And, you of course told your daughter about how you used her mother, tried to kill her and her uncle, and deserted her when your first plan to kill Pete failed?
Murdoc looked up at the mirror he knew Riss was standing behind, and smiled. "My daughter knows who I am MacGyver. Children are like their fathers. Even your brat, while rather dull, has some of your keen mind from what I've seen. And perhaps a little more of the killer's instinct, though you've tried to squash that in him. Shame on you for that. A good father should encourage his child's talents. But, I am surprised that you aren't more curious about Ashton, Peter?"
"Ashton?" asked MacGyver. "Your sister?"
"No," replied Murdoc. "My sister died years ago MacGyver, you know that. No, Ashton was Clarissa's younger sister. Named after my sister of course."
"Funny," said MacGyver. "You were determined to protect your sister's innocence, but you dragged your daughters head first into your world."
"That was my mistake with my sister MacGyver. I shielded her from the truth of the world and what happened? She died in a ski accident. Like any normal peon. A ski accident? I mean, could you see something like that killing either one of us? No, no with Riss and Ash I knew I had to raise them right. Make them strong. Make them stronger and deadlier than anything else around them. I believe I've succeeded with Riss, but with little Ashton I ran out of time. And that was your fault Peter."
"What? How?" asked Peter.
"You almost caught word of my organization at one point. And, in my haste to relocate, one of the many governments with a bone to pick with me found us. Found our home while I was away completing a mission. They came in and shot at my children, and little Ash died in the crossfire. Riss survived, but what chance did our little 6 year old have? Oh how Jenny grieved for her daughter. You know, sometimes she can be a cold person. Even a cold mother. She never cared much about the girls' achievements in target practice or toxicology, but even she's not quite heartless. She cried for her little girl."
Peter looked into Murdoc's face. He might not be able to see, but he could hear where Murdoc's voice was coming from. "She died, because you put her in danger. It was your enemies that came for her, and you who failed to protect her. If you'd really cared about your daughters as anything other than future lieutenants to order around, you would have let them go. We could have protected them."
Murdoc scowled, but then sneered and laughed. "You and MacGyver? In your little Phoenix Foundation? They'd have had twice the enemies. One of your own men tried to shoot me under a flag of truce. Hit Jenny in the crossfires. No Peter, no. But, enough of all this. It's time to bring everyone together! Riss? Bring down Baby-Mac."
Riss grabbed Sam and pulled her gun. "Get up, and don't try anything."
Sam stood up and walked towards the elevator. Riss looked back at the guard with her Mom. "And you-keep an eye on my mother", she said pointedly. Something about the exchange struck Sam as odd. Jenny stood up. "Clarissa, please-"
"I told you, I prefer Riss," she hissed as the elevator doors snapped shut.
While Riss and Sam headed down, Murdoc turned back to MacGyver and Pete.
"Now," said Murdoc. You may be wondering about the placement at this table. It's very simple. MacGyver is right next to Peter, so that while the visual impact may be lost on our blind man, he will be able to hear and, hopefully, feel everything through MacGyver's reactions. Sam will be seated across, to afford MacGyver a clear view. Now, I've known for some time that I don't want to cheapen this deeply emotional moment with cheap theatrics. No. We must let the pure emotion come through. However, the question I struggled with all last night was 'What order?' What order would have the most impact. In the end, the answer was simple. MacGyver is, of course, the linch-pin. Everyone's relationships tie back to him. So, at first, I thought he should be the first one to go. The horror as his mentor and son watch him die would be monumental. But, it just isn't quite right. They'd have each other to share in the grief. No, the pain needs to compound, bit by bit."
Murdoc grabbed the arms of MacGyver's chair and leaned his forehead in towards MacGyver. MacGyver thought about making his move now, but he still didn't know for sure where Sam was, or who was guarding him. He needed to wait.
"So," hissed Murdoc, "first I'll kill your brat. Pete gets to hear you cry out for your dead son, and then the last thing Pete will feel is your blood dribbling onto his skin when I slit your throat."
Pete gaped in horror. MacGyver leaned in towards Murdoc. "Despite what you think, Riss hasn't seemed all that excited for your plan. Does your daughter really know you that well? Are you prepared to show her this? To lose her?"
"Lose? Oh MacGyver, I've already won."
The elevator doors opened, and Sam started out, but Riss grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
"I'm only going to say this once. I will kill to protect my father," she hissed in his ear.
"And I'd die to save mine," replied Sam.
Riss blinked. "Move it," she said. She shoved him, but as she did she slipped something into his hand. Sam almost started at the familiar shape, but Riss shoved him forward again. Keeping his composure, Sam stashed the Swiss-army knife she had just handed him up his sleeve.
Riss walked him into the room and sat him down in the chair opposite MacGyver and Pete. The clamps clanged shut, but standing next to him, Riss heard a faint ping. She blinked, but didn't look down. She moved to stand next to Murdoc.
Sam looked across the table at MacGyver. He wished he could reassure him. Tell him he had a plan. He looked back at Murdoc. Murdoc had picked up a large knife and was now standing behind Pete and MacGyver. No wonder his Dad still had nightmares about this monster. This man's delight in killing, was truly the most horrific thing Sam had ever seen, and he'd seen plenty of horrors in his short life. Finally, Sam looked at Riss, but her face was blank and emotionless. She stood like a soldier, awaiting orders.
"Riss," stated Murdoc, "pull your gun."
"Dad?" she asked.
"Pull. Your. Gun. Riss."
Riss pulled her gun and held it at her side. Murdoc leaned down between Pete and MacGyver. "The funny thing gentleman," he whispered, "is how I understand better than anyone what it felt like when MacGyver found Sam, and when you found Riss Pete. It's like getting a second wind. Seeing both yourself and your future at the same time. So, while, as stated, I will be the one serving you tonight MacGyver, I want you both to watch as Pete's future, snuffs our yours. Riss. Ready" he said aloud.
Riss looked at her father, her eyes wide. She nodded.
"Aim," said Murdoc calmly.
Riss took a breath and pointed her gun at Sam.
Sam look at this father. Murdoc had his eyes on Riss. Sam tried to motion with his eyes down to his arm. He thought his father gave him a slight nod.
"Fire!"
Five things happened at once. Riss fired into Sam's chair as he pulled his arm free and jumped behind it. MacGyver freed his hand and twisted backwards in his chair, bringing his feet up to kick Murdoc in the chin and sent him sprawling. Pete kicked up with his feet, upending the table and sending the candles, dishes and food on it flying. The glass above them broke, and several shots rained down. Jenny called out to Riss to take cover.
In the confusion, MacGyver grabbed a butter knife that had fallen from the table, and jammed it into the clamp over his other arm. Moving fast, he got himself and Pete free just as Murdoc recovered from MacGyver's blow, and pulled his gun to fire at them. Riss started firing up at the broken window where Murdoc's guard stood firing with an automatic, forcing Murdoc to take cover. Staying low, MacGyver, Pete and Sam moved towards each other. "Are you alright?" gasped MacGyver, grabbing Sam's shoulders and trying to check him for injuries. "Yeah," said Sam, shifting his grip on the Swiss-Army Knife. MacGyver looked down. "I wondered how you'd gotten loose so fast. Where did you get that?"
"Riss slipped it to me in the elevator."
"So she did change her mind."
"Not exactly," said Sam pointing to Riss as she covered her and Murdoc's exit out the back door. "But she's not a killer. Jenny was right about that."
As Murdoc and Riss escaped out the back, the guard up above slid down a rope, Jenny in his arms. "Riss, no!" she cried as the back doors slammed shut.
"Jenny?!" called Pete.
"Uncle Pete!" she cried rushing forward and holding him. "You're okay, you're okay!"
"I'm okay, you're okay, we're okay," said Pete, almost in disbelief. Jenny started laughing and crying onto his shoulder.
"Look, we better get moving," said the guard coming up.
"But what about Riss?" asked Jenny.
"Wait, who are you?" asked Pete as Sam and MacGyver hurried over.
"Aaron Samuleson," he said. "I've been deep undercover in Murdoc's organization for the past two years."
"From the government?" asked MacGyver.
Aaron looked uncomfortable. "No." he said simply.
"He's a friend," said Jenny. "I trust him."
Sam remember Riss' look and comment upstairs. "Riss knew about you?"
Aaron nodded. "We'd been worried she did. I half thought she was going to shoot me once we got upstairs, but I guess she didn't know after all."
MacGyver looked at Sam's face. "Or it might be something more than that, but we've got to get out of here. Now, if we're on the second floor here, what's the fastest way out?"
"Back through the door they brought you through," said Aaron. "If we can make it to the staircase down the hall, the exit is right above us."
"Alright, let's go," said Pete. They hurried out. Aaron in the front with Pete and Jenny holding onto each other in the middle, and Sam and MacGyver in the back. Right as they made it to the hallway, alarms started to sound and guards rushed into their path, blocking them from the stairs.
"New plan!" cried MacGyver, opening a door to their right and ushering everyone through it. It led to another hall that they hurried down. "There's no other way out of this hall!" called Aaron. "And I am running out of amo!"
Pete sniffed. "There's chemicals coming from over there!" he called. MacGyver pushed open the door. Cleaning closet. Looking around, he saw a large vent in the ceiling.
"Aaron, do the vents run through the whole building?"
"Yes, but they only let out on the roof."
"Then that's the way we'll go," said MacGyver, moving shelving to block the door. Aaron moved boxes and pulled the grate off the vent. "I don't think everyone can climb that."
Sam looked around the room. He grabbed some extention cords and the rope hanging from Aaron's belt.
"Dad?" he said holding them up.
MacGyver smiled. "That'll work. Can you climb quickly?" Sam nodded and started up with a boost from Aaron. The vent was slick, but he could shimmy up it pretty quickly. It opened flat onto the roof. At the top, he found another vent coming out of the roof, one that came up and curved. He tied the cord around it creating a loop, and then threaded the rope through it. Aaron tied one end around Jenny, and then pulled on the other end, hauling her up quickly.
"Alright sir," he said turning to Pete. "You're next."
MacGyver had been busy meanwhile. Apparently Murdoc liked a clean lair. There were plenty of chemicals here to work with. MacGyver started mixing them in the mop bucket.
Aaron turned to him.
"You ready?" he asked.
MacGyver hurried over. "You go up first, and then you all pull me up fast.
With MacGyver pulling and Aaron moving hand over hand they got him up just as people started banging on the door.
"Dad!" called down Sam.
MacGyver looped the rope around his waist and grabbed one last chemical. Amonia.
"Pull!" he shouted. All 4 on the roof pulled him up just as the door burst open. MacGyver dropped the last chemical, causing an instant fog to rise up from the floor. The men below started coughing, choking and firing wildly.
Sam grabbed his Dad's arms and helped pull him out of the vent.
"Now what?" he asked.
"Now we grab the rope and get off this roof before-"
"Duck!" shouted Jenny. Everyone dived to the side as a small explosion rocked the roof.
Dazed, MacGyver looked up to see Murdoc lowering a miniature bazooka, with Riss close behind, advancing on them.
Sam took a double take when he saw the bazooka. "Are you kidding me?!" He started to stand, but area around the vent was indented and crumbling. MacGyver pushed him forward. "No, stay on your hands and knees. Keep your center spread."
"MacGyver, this time, I just shoot!" cried Murdoc, putting another round in his weapon.
"No, stop!"
Murdoc froze in shock and turned. Sam realized belatedly that it wasn't Jenny who had called out that time. It was Riss. Riss had her gun out. She was holding it pointed down, but in Murdoc's direction.
"I beg your pardon?" snapped Murdoc.
"Let's just go. Mom's never going to come around. Their agents and police are definitely on the way. We need to go. Now!"
"Clarissa, while I understand you are going through some serious mommy-daughter issues, this was always about so much more than just your mother. Though," said Murdoc turning back to them and giving Aaron a deadly glare, "it all feels very personal."
He raised the bazooka again, but Aaron started firing. A bullet ricocheted off the bazooka, making Murdoc drop it as he ducked for cover. MacGyver held his breath, but the drop didn't set off the bazooka.
Murdoc and Riss dodged behind an AC unit.
Sam looked around him. If only Murdoc moved just a little closer, he would be on one of the weakest parts of the roof. It could collapse.
Just then, Aaron's gun clicked. "I'm out."
Murdoc stepped out from behind the unit and stalked forward.
"Dad, stop!" cried Riss pointing her gun straight at him. Murdoc turned back to her in shock.
"What do you think you're doing? You dare to point a gun at me?"
"I'm, I'm sorry," gasped Riss, "her gun shaking. "But, this is crazy. Taking the time to come up here was crazy. Let's just go. They won't follow us. They don't matter. Let's just go."
"Riss, my little fool, they will chase us. We need to finish this."
"No, no we don't. Please. They never found you unless you wanted to be found. But we need to go now. People will have heard the explosion and the guns. We need to go."
Murdoc shook his head in disappointment. He walked back towards his daughter until he was right in front of her gun.
Sam tried to use the distraction to rush forward, but MacGyver grabbed his arm. "I'm already on it Sam. Get the rest of them off the roof."
"No, I can-"
"Sam, please. Trust me." Sam nodded reluctantly, ushering everyone over to the other end while MacGyver moved stealthly towards the vent and the bazooka.
Standing in front of Riss, Murdoc stared her down. Riss stepped back. Reaching out suddenly, Murdoc grabbed her wrist, and twisted the gun out of her hands. "Riss, I appreciate that you are confused and going through a lot," he said irritatedly. "However, if there is anything I learned from Ash's death, it's leaving enemies breathing, always ends badly."
Deftly, Murdoc punched Riss full in the face, knocking her down. Then, drawing his own gun, he turned towards the others with both guns, and started firing.
Jenny tried to run towards Riss, but Aaron pulled her back.
"You'll just get yourself killed," he gasped.
Sam helped Pete duck. He'd finished tying off the rope, but they needed more cover to get everyone down it.
"Murdoc!" cried out MacGyver, dodging behind another outcropping. He'd managed to get his hands on the bazooka.
Murdoc turned.
"Really MacGyver. We both know that if you fire that, the force will collapse the part of the roof you're standing on." Murdoc shot at him, but MacGyver was safely covered.
"So?" asked MacGyver. "You're telling me you wouldn't go down to stop me?"
Sam looked up. Aaron had helped Pete down and now Jenny was going. But Sam couldn't leave.
"Don't do it Dad," he whispered.
MacGyver smiled. Murdoc was coming even closer. His guns were running low, and he didn't want to miss his shot when MacGyver fired the bazooka. However, Murdoc had been right before. MacGyver wouldn't fire the bazooka at him. Riss was still prone on the ground right behind him. She could get hurt by the blast. However, she was just out of the pit around the vent. Swiftly, MacGyver turned the bazooka up and fired, releasing it as he did so and jumping back. The missile shot up, exploding in the air. The holder itself was propelled down, with all the opposite force of the missile. The pavement of the roof started cracking and buckling. Murdoc fired, but his shots went wild as he lost his footing.
Sam rushed forward, he couldn't see MacGyver.
Riss sat up, her nose bleeding, as she saw the ground giving way beneath Murdoc.
"No!" she cried jumping forward towards him.
"Riss, stop!" cried out Sam.
Riss turned momentarily at the sound, locking eyes with Sam. But then, the ground gave way beneath her too.
"MacGyyyyveeerr!" cried out Murdoc as the ground caved beneath him.
"Saaaammmmm?" shouted Riss as she tripped and tumbled down after him.
Police cars and Swat pulled up a few seconds later as the smoke, ash and dust from the explosions and the collapses filled the air. Sam had rushed towards the pit, only to be caught in the wave of debris and started choking. He'd felt a strong pair of hands grab him and pull him back. He looked up at his Dad's sooty face. MacGyver had managed to jump clear in time. Relieved, Sam folded into his Dad's arms. He hadn't lost him. Not today.
Peter got the reinforcements organized and in the building. Jenny wanted to rush in too, but MacGyver held her back.
"You need to get your injuries looked at. You took some damage when he fired that bazooka."
"We've got to check, Riss could be bleeding out, and Murdoc could be getting away!"
"If Riss is anything like her father, I'd be more worried about that latter, but that's just it. While they clear it out, I'm trying to keep a lookout for how Murdoc could escape," he replied.
Just then, they heard a clanging away from the building. Looking over, MacGyver saw a sewer.
"No, of course. You three, come over here!" called MacGyver to three of the officers. Sam rushed over with them. They got the lid off the sewer. At first search, they thought it was empty, until one of the officers found a folded paper with "Sam" written on it. He brought it up to them.
Sam stared at the paper like it was a snake before finally unfolding it. It was a family portrait. It was honestly a bit creepy. Jenny was in the center of the picture with a neutral expression on her face. She had a little girl with blond hair sitting on her lap, a smiling teenage Riss standing next to her, and a beaming Murdoc in the back, looking every inch the proud patriarch.
Scrawled over the picture were the words:
"I'm sorry. Look out for your Dad"
Sam stared at the picture for a moment, but then crumpled it in his fist.
MacGyver gently put his hand on Sam's shoulder. "I'm sorry son."
Sam shook his head. "Forget it."
They hurried out and over to Peter, Jenny and Aaron. Peter was holding a sobbing Jenny, while Aaron sat in the back of an ambulance having a gash on his arm stitched up.
"It's alright now. It's alright," comforted Peter. "You're safe now Jenny. It's over."
Jenny sobbed. "I don't think I'd have made it without the girls. I don't just mean emotionally. There were so many times I thought he would kill me. After the woods, I finally saw what he was. I saw everything you'd tried to warn me about and I couldn't pretend. I wouldn't tell him where Clarissa was, but once he knew she existed it was all too easy for him to find her. I was such an idiot thinking I could keep her safe myself. Once he found her, I think he meant to kill me, but by then we'd realized I was pregnant again. By the time Ashton was born, he'd gotten to know Clarissa enough to realize how badly she wanted a family. He'd hoped by giving her a semblance of one he'd control her. It was horrible watching him corrupt her and Ashton, and being powerless to stop it."
MacGyver and Sam walked up to them. Jenny looked up at MacGyver.
"I'm so sorry MacGyver. I'm so sorry to both of you. If I hadn't been such an idiot all those years ago, none of this would have happened. I put you all in danger."
"Don't be so hard on yourself," said MacGyver. "Murdoc was always good at deceiving and playing a part. Truth be told, if he hadn't thought he had you fooled back then, he wouldn't have kept you around."
Jenny shook her head. "It's no excuse."
"He's right," said Pete. "And you weren't helpless. Whatever humanity is left in Riss is because of you. She might have left with Murdoc for now, but at least she helped us get out. While she might not be ready to leave her father, she still wanted to save you."
Jenny looked at MacGyver and Sam. "It wasn't just me. I don't know what happened between you all in that day you had with Riss, but it did something. I don't think you all were what she was expecting."
"Any sign of them?" asked Aaron.
"No," said MacGyver.
"No bodies," muttered Peter.
"So," MacGyver asked Jennifer, "How did you find out that Aaron was a mole?"
Jenny smiled. "He just seemed different than the rest. Truth be told, he noticed me first."
Pete might not have been able to see Jenny's face, but he could recognize her tone.
"Oh Jenny," he moaned under his breath.
"It's not like that," insisted Jenny. "I just knew he wasn't like the rest, and we ended up covering for each other. We became friends, the only friend I had in there."
MacGyver rolled his eyes. Jenny was still Jenny.
"What group did you say you were spying for again?" asked MacGyver.
Aaron looked down. "I didn't."
Pete sighed. "This is going to be such a mess. We're going to have to take you into custody until we get this sorted out."
"Uncle Pete," begged Jenny. "I know I wasn't the best judge of character in the past, but you have to believe me. I've gotten much better at this after living with Murdoc. You can't just lock Aaron up. Besides, we need him. We can't leave Riss with her father."
Sam frowned. "She made a choice."
Jenny looked at him sadly, a knowing look on her face as she saw his pain. "Yes, she did. But I've never been sure how much of a choice she's every really had."
Pete rubbed his temple. "I don't know how you keep getting into situations like this Jenny. But, I'll see what I can do for Aaron."
MacGyver smiled at Pete. "It'll work out Pete. You'll see."
Wrapping his arm around Sam, they started off.
"Your friend's niece sure does have a thing for bad boys," muttered Sam.
"Well, after Murdoc," said MacGyver, "I think Pete will consider any new man in her life an improvement. Plus, whatever his original assignment, Aaron did risk his life to get her out."
"Yeah," said Sam. "He helped us too."
"I think Pete will be willing to offer him a deal if he'll trade info about whatever third party he was originally working for."
Sam went quiet for a while. As they got to the car that would take them back to the Phoenix Foundation. He looked at his father. Over the past few months, he gotten to know MacGyver as a go-lucky, kind, imaginative person. Seen how he could solve any problem they encountered. But he'd never seen this side of him. The side that could face a deadly killer the way he did. He'd thought his adventure with his Dad against the corrupt chinese officials had been extreme for his father's work. Now, he was realizing how ordinary a day that must have been for MacGyver. As the Phoenix Foundation HQ came into view, Sam finally spoke.
"Murdoc is still out there. Do you think he'll come looking for us again?"
MacGyver was quiet for a moment. "I'd like to say no, but..."
Sam nodded. "So that's what you did. That was your life with the Phoenix Foundation?"
MacGyver shifted in the back seat. "Everyday wasn't like that. I was Pete's troubleshooter. I was there to fix problems. Sometimes the biggest danger I faced was teenagers with attitude. Other times, there were people like Murdoc."
Sam turned to face his Dad fully. "I never realized how….how violent it was. Does it not phase you?"
MacGyver shook his head. "You never get used to getting shot at, but you learn how to handle it. I know what you mean about the violence. But, that's what I'm trying to change. To find a better way. Too often these days, people think the don't have a choice, but there is. That's what I'm trying to help people see.'
"You mean you were," said Sam. "You don't work for them anymore."
MacGyver turned to Sam. "I don't regret that Sam. If anything, what just happened reminds me why I left. I've got you now. I can't drag you into this."
"Yeah, well, I'm kind of the one who dragged you into the last adventure, and it looks like now, you can't exactly control what I get dragged into."
MacGyver looked worried. "What are you saying Sam?"
"I'm not sure yet," admitted Sam. "This was a lot. A lot to process. Some of the things Murdoc and Riss said, about you, about me….I don't know. I need to think it through."
MacGyver started to lift his arm towards Sam, but then paused. He'd thought he'd understood Sam, but he was reminded of how much he still had to learn.
Sam looked at MacGyver. He knew he was worrying him. "Hey, I'll be okay. I promise."
MacGyver nodded, letting his hand across Sam's shoulders.
"I know I wasn't there Sam. I wasn't there for you when you lost your Mom, and that still eats me up inside. But I hope you know that I am here for you now. You are the most important person in my life."
Sam smiled. "I know," he said.
"Whatever happens next," promised MacGyver, "we'll face it together."
Somewhere on the other side of the world.
The black helicopter touched down in the jungle. Two men and a women rushed up to meet it as the door opened and a passenger stepped out.
"We were worried," said one of the men. "We heard the safe-house was compromised."
"Were you able to finish off MacGyver?" asked the woman.
Murdoc finished stepping out of the helicopter and smiled. "There was a mole. Not one of Peter Thorton's men. It seems there is another party interested in our organization. The thing that confuses me, is how word got out." He glared at the three people in front of him. They all shifted uncomfortably.
"You know we're loyal to you," said the woman. "We'll find the leak."
"Oh, I hope so," said Murdoc. "I sincerely hope so." He turned back to the helicopter and held out his hand.
"Hurry my dear. We have work to do. And this time," he added quietly, "no foul-ups."
To Be Continued…...