Riss crawled over the tiles carefully. She'd considered taking Aaron's gun, but if they got through the door she wanted to know there was extra protection for everyone on the other side of the door. Looking around her, she found what she was looking for and slowly lifted one of the tiles that was right by the sprinkler for the fire system. She smiled as she examined it. It was the type that had the water already primed, you just had to break the thin glass tube holding the lid in place. The tube was filled with a liquid that would expand when heated. Riss flipped Sam's lighter open quietly, and held it to the tube. The tube shattered and water started raining down. Murdoc and his men paused and started looking all around as Riss twisted open a soap container she'd taken from the room and threw it down in front of the hospital room door.
Two of the men started firing at the open tile, forcing Riss to dive backwards. She kicked the tile back into place, but it was very quickly shredded by the bullets coming up at it.
Back in the hospital room, Jennifer started at the sounds of gunfire. She looked to MacGyver worriedly.
"She'll be alright. She's a smart kid," he reassured. Jennifer nodded, but continued to bite her lip as she rocked little Peter.
MacGyver had finished constructing a crude bow. For the arrow, he'd taken one of the blades from his swiss-army knife and lashed it to a straightened out hanger. The bow itself came from the IV stand, which fortunately was one of the models that curved slightly.
Sam looked out the window. "The telephone is a long shot away."
MacGyver nodded. "I don't need to get it that far. Just inside the perimeter of the cops." They'd had Pete write a note and attached it and his Phoenix card to the arrow. They hoped the cops below would help. Taking a breath, MacGyver aimed and let the arrow fly. It didn't fly perfectly straight, or as far as they'd hoped, but it went far enough that an officer was able to retrieve it. They held their breaths as they watched them reading the note. Finally, one of them took it to the telephone pole and started climbing the ladder of a fire truck on site to tie it near the top. Five other cops surrounded the pole, their weapons drawn and ready.
"Good, they're going to watch and make sure we are who we say are."
Pete looked over from the door. "They've stopped after that last loud thud."
Outside, Carl and one of the men had started trying to ram the bench they'd found into the door again, they realized that the floor was too slippery now to hold any traction. They crashed into the door and lay stunned for a moment. Murdoc grabbed Jim's shoulder. "Get to the basement and prep the exit. Grab one of the patients from the end rooms and 'evacuate' them down to get past the police that will be down stairs. Go now."
Jim took off while Murdoc advanced towards the tile, raising his gun. "MacGyver?" he called. Riss needed a cover to get back to the room safely. She looked at the jacket Pete had given her. It felt synthetic, not easy to light on fire. But…...it could still help. Slipping off the jacket and taking the cord she'd tied her hair back with, she suspended the jacket from the roof. In the dark, Murdoc might think it was someone crouching. Then, she quietly crawled back to the room.
Back in the room, Pete stepped forward while Aaron helped Jenny into one of Sam's harnesses. "Mac, I'm going down first. I'll be the easiest to ID, and let's face it...if the rope can hold me, it will hold all of us."
"No Pete."
"Cmon MacGyver. You know if this doesn't work they'll need you. But it will work Mac. You've never let me down before and you won't today."
Speechless, MacGyver reached out and hugged Pete. Pete clapped him on the back. "It's going to be alright. I'll be fine."
MacGyver nodded and looped a twisted sheet that would be there rope around the line and tied it to Pete's harness.
"Hold onto this rope. We had them tie the line further up so you won't slide into the pole too fast, but you're going to want to stick your legs out together so that your feet or legs take the hit and not your head."
Pete nodded. "Got it."
MacGyver and Sam helped him to sit on the open window ledge. Pete smiled. "Least I can't look down," and pushed himself off. He raced down the line, holding tightly to the sheet/rope. Despite holding his legs straight out, he ended up crashing into the pole with his side, but seemed fine. Two firemen got him down quickly.
"He's made it!" called out Sam. Aaron walked with Jenny to the window. She started trembling while clutching baby Peter. "I can't do this, I can't do this."
Sam reached out and took little Peter. "Aaron, it might be better if you take Baby Pete with you. You'll be able to hold the line with one hand better than Jennifer."
MacGyver nodded. "Don't worry Jenny. We'll use his baby blanket to make a sling to help Aaron hold him. But you've got to go now."
Sam looked towards the door. The pounding had stopped. That worried him, but he didn't want to give Jennifer anymore cause for alarm. He looked at MacGyver. He had noticed it too.
Jenny stood petrified as they looped her to the line and helped her to the window. As she sat on the ledge.
MacGyver started to reassure her. "It's going to be okay. As you get near, hold your legs out to take the hit. Keep your head back."
Jennifer looked back at the room. "I can't do this. Aaron, you should go first with our baby and-" Aaron stepped over and laid a calming hand on Jenny's shoulder...and then he shoved her out the window.
Out in the hallway and up in the ceiling, Murdoc and Riss both looked up with surprise as they heard Jenny shouting "Aaron you basta-ahhhhhh!"
MacGyver and Sam looked over at Aaron as he looped himself to the line, holding Little Pete against him in the sling with one hand. He looked at MacGyver. "She'll get over it. She's just a little over protective." MacGyver raised his eyebrows. Aaron sighed he got ready to push off, but paused and turned to MacGyver and Sam. "Thank you," and then he started sliding down the line, holding his little son tightly against him. MacGyver and Sam watched as he made it to the pole and was helped down. MacGyver smiled.
"Alright Sam, you're next."
"No way," said Sam. "Riss isn't back yet."
"Don't worry, she'll be here soon. I'll wait for her, but I want you down now."
"No, I'm not going without her and you."
"Sam, the more of us in this building, the more likely it is we'll get caught and people will get caught in the crossfire. Now I trusted you in the jungle, and you trusted me. I'm asking you to trust me one more time."
Sam looked up at the ceiling where Riss had disappeared.
"We'll be right behind you. I promise."
Sam grimaced for a moment, but finally nodded and looped himself to the line. As he sat on the window, Riss popped her head through the ceiling.
"Riss!" he cried.
"Move it!" she shouted. Sam smiled and pushed off as MacGyver helped her down and started tying a harness around her.
Meanwhile, in the hallway, Murdoc had gotten underneath the tile and very quickly recognized that the shadow he saw was an empty jacket. Sighing, he turned back to his cluless men struggling and failing to get enough traction through the soapy suds on the floor. Irritatedly, he walked over to the door right next to the Thorton & Company hospital room and kicked it open, breaking the door around the lock and knocking down a badly placed chair that had been wedged against it. Murdoc heard a muffled shriek come from the bathroom. Rolling his eyes, he crossed over to the bathroom door and properly wedged the chair beneath the door knob.
"That is how it is done," he said calmly as Carl and Max walked into the room.
Murdoc turned to them.
"Max, see if you can make it up to the roof and get the helicopter ready for our getaway."
Max nodded and took off. Carl looked at Murdoc with confusion. "I thought we were getting out through the garage?" Murdoc smiled. "I always have more than one way out Carl. Now, think you can get through this wall with the furniture in this room?"
Carl picked up the IV stand and started smashing it into the wall as Murdoc crossed over to the window to look out, keeping to the side of it so any police outside would not have a clear view or shot in. He looked out at the line just in time to see Sam slide down it. Murdoc's eyes flashed as he saw Jenny and Aaron down below, safely surrounded by cops and cradling their little brat. He did give a small smile when he saw that MacGyver was not on the ground yet.
MacGyver had just secured Riss' harness when the IV stand crashed through the wall. Riss looked up. "They're coming through."
"Right, you've got to get out of here."
Riss handed MacGyver the last sheet rope and crossed over to the bed to get a cord from the wall. "We'll go down at the same time. Tie yourself on." However, just as she got to him by the window, Carl crashed through the wall, leveling his gun at her. "Don't move!" Because of a corner jutting out in the wall, he could only see Riss, not MacGyver. He started to step forward to see who was around the corner.
Riss raised her hands slowly, but kicked out with her foot, forcing MacGyver out the window as she dropped to the ground as Carl fired.
Murdoc saw MacGyver come flailing down the line. He broke the window and started firing. He'd aimed to hit MacGyver as he came down, but for some reason MacGyver had grabbed the line to stop himself. Instead, Murdoc ended up hitting the line, making it snap.
MacGyver heard glass breaking and heard the gun shots. He grabbed the line. He'd promised Sam he wouldn't leave Riss, and he wasn't about to break that promise. He strained, trying to look back up through the window to see if she'd gotten out or was near the window. Just then, he felt the line snap. Suddenly, he was dropping. He held tightly to the rope as it swung towards the hospital. MacGyver stuck his legs out and landed on the wall.
He could hear shouts from behind him as the cops and his friends saw what happened. Suddenly, a large man appeared in the window. It was the man from upstairs, who'd fired at Riss. Looking down, he started firing at MacGyver. MacGyver kicked off from the hospital wall and swung left and right, dodging the bullets when he heard the man cry out and get jerked back into the room.
Meanwhile, Murdoc growled in frustration as MacGyver swung out of his line of sight and a sniper bullet came through the window towards him.
Stepping back, he walked through the wall Carl had created. He stepped through just in time to see Riss jump on Carl's back, one hand tugging on his hair, and the other wrapped around his neck as she pulled him back from the window. Murdoc couldn't help but smile in pride as Riss brought Carl down to his knees, but then Carl lunged forward, launching Riss over his head and onto the floor in front of the window. Riss groaned, and rolled over as Carl leveled his gun at her.
"Very good Carl," said Murdoc as he stepped forward. Riss started rising slowly, but Murdoc pulled out his own gun. "Ah ah ah," he said. "Let's stay down shall we. I'd hate for poor Carl to get his poor hair pulled again." Murdoc started to cross to the window, but Riss slid in front of it and stood up in the same movement. Murdoc stepped closer, his gun pointed at her face.
"Riss," he warned calmly, "You're starting to annoy me."
"They're already gone," replied Riss. "It's over."
"Oh Riss, it will never be over. Not till I say so."
Suddenly, Riss pulled a gun out from behind her and pulled the trigger. Shocked, Murdoc fired at her too, hitting her in the shoulder and almost making her tumble out the window, only just grabbing the window frame in time.
Down below, MacGyver saw Riss almost fall out. "Hold on," he whispered. "I'm coming."
Stunned, Murdoc realized no bullet had hit him. His brow furrowed. Riss was a good shot, especially this close, even with compromised eyesight. Murdoc heard a groan behind him and turned to see Carl falling to the ground, a gun clutched in his hand. Murdoc crossed over to him and kicked the gun away. "Carl?" he asked.
Carl moaned on the ground, clutching a bleeding wound on his chest. Murdoc knelt down to check the wound.
"How is it?" asked Carl.
Murdoc said nothing, but picked up Carl's gun. Carl sneered as he realized the wound was fatal. He started to laugh. Murdoc smiled. "What's so funny?" he asked. Carl continued to chuckle, coughing up a bit of blood as he reached inside his pocket and Murdoc heard a faint beep. His eyes growing wide, Murdoc pulled out Carl's hand and saw the detonator Carl had just pushed.
Without a word Murdoc turned and grabbed Riss right as an explosion beneath them want off. The room and all the floors right below it folded in on themselves. MacGyver swung far to the left and grabbed onto a ledge as the window collapsed and the rope dropped. Jennifer stared in horror as Riss disappeared from the window.
"NO!" cried out Sam. His eyes started darting back and forth. In the dim twilight, he saw MacGyver clinging to the ledge. He tried to rush forward, but the cops held him back. "That's my Dad! And my friend! They're still in there!"
"Stay back. There could be another explosion," said an officer as he held Sam back and waved for another officer to help pull him back.
"Sam," called a voice. Turning, Sam saw Nikki Carpenter come running up. "Nikki," he called as he rushed back to her. "You need to make them let us through. Riss was right by that explosion, and my Dad's on the wall." Nikki looked up at MacGyver. "Oh Mac," she breathed.
"Don't worry Sam, we'll get them. We've got to move carefully though. We don't know what happened." As she rushed forward to speak with the officers at the front, she saw MacGyver lower himself with the rope, but then rush towards the crater created by the explosion.
"MacGyver," she grumbled under her breath.
In the crater, Riss started coughing as the air filled with debris and dust. Each cough hurt her chest. She tried to move, but felt a shot of pain go down her side. Trying to get her vision to focus, she looked down at her side. It was bleeding. Did she crack a rib? Puncture a lung? "Ohhhhh," she moaned. Everything hurt. She felt a stirring by her side. Turning, she saw her father looming over her, still holding a gun. Adrenaline kicking in, she realized she was still holding her gun and hurried to point it at him. Murdoc paused and raised an eyebrow. "That bluff would be a little more believable if you hadn't been so altruistic lately."
Riss started to laugh, but it quickly changed into a coughing fit as she let her gun drop. "It would also work better if I hadn't already used my last bullet too," she said between coughs. Murdoc holstered his gun and knelt down, applying pressure to Riss' stomach wound. "Yes, that was an interesting choice up there. Why did you shoot Carl?"
Riss gasped is pain as Murdoc pushed down. "Ughhh! Stop that! Uhh. Hew Hew" she breathed. "Why do you think you idiot? He was about to shoot you in the back."
"So I surmised when he tried to blow me up. Those charges we had Jim place below the room were supposed to be for my getaway. But, why did YOU stop him?" asked Murdoc as he ripped his sleeve to try to staunch the bleeding.
Riss gave a small chuckle. "I guess for the same reason you're trying to save me now-ow ow ow! Not so tight!"
Murdoc rolled his eyes, "Stop being a child. What did I always tell you?"
Riss sucked in a breath. "If you could take the injury, you can take the patch."
"Exactly," said Murdoc. He looked down at his handiwork. He needed something more to stop the bleeding. He'd tried to shield her during the fall, but he'd lost his grip on her right at the end and judging from the jagged and bloody debris next to her, she'd gotten caught on something when she hit the ground.
Her shoulder was also bleeding from her bullet wound.
Riss looked at her father. "Yes, thank you for that," she said wryly.
"Well maybe you shouldn't run half way around the world with one of my oldest problems. Really Riss, why? I can understand why you tried to come between your mother and me. I could even understand if you had tried to shield Mac's Brat, hormones, he muttered. But MacGyver? Ever since L.A., why did you protect him?"
Riss shrugged. "It's hard not to like him. It's almost annoying, but at the end of the day it's impossible to hate him. He looks out for people, especially his family. Does it really surprise you?"
Murdoc groaned. "You're hopeless. Honestly, I thought I raised you better than that."
Riss chuckled again, but started coughing again. Murdoc put his hand on her shoulder. "Easy, easy now," he urged.
Riss sighed and let her head fall back and her eyes close.
Murdoc looked at her face worriedly. "Riss? Riss?" he called, a slight edge of panic in his voice. He shook Riss, but her eyes stayed closed. He leaned down. She was still breathing.
Just then, he heard the sound of footsteps. Looking around, he saw one of the machine guns a yard away from him. Grabbing it, he let himself slide down 2 feet on the pile of debris, just out of sight from whoever was coming towards them.
…
Nikki looked up as a helicopter started to warm up from the roof. "Did anyone authorize that helicopter?!" she demanded.
"No, we're solely evacuating on the ground."
"Move to intercept it!" ordered Nikki. Sam came up to her. "What about Dad and Riss?"
"I'm heading in with a group right now," she replied.
"I'm coming with you," insisted Sam.
"No, you're not, and that is an order," insisted Nikki.
"Technically, you only hired me for the one mission," argued Sam.
"Your performance will be reviewed for continued employment, so disobeying an order will not be a count in your favor," replied Nikki.
Sam looked Nikki in the eyes. "Are you trying to order me to stay because you honestly think I can't help, or because of your friendship with my father?"
Nikki looked sideways.
"Cause, as I recall, that's not how it's supposed to work when you're in charge."
Nikki gave a little half smile. "You're good. Alright, but if Mac throws a fit, you're explaining it to him. We go in in 2 minutes, and I want you in a bullet proof vest, no arguments."
"Yes Ma'am," said Sam with a smile.
…..
MacGyver inched through the rubble. "Riss?" he called out in a whisper. He didn't know where Murdoc had been when the floors collapsed, and he just prayed that Riss had survived this 12 story fall as well as she'd survived the 2 story one a year ago. Hopefully she'd inherited her father's skills…..at least those ones.
Suddenly, he saw a prone figure at the top of a pile of rubble ahead of him.
"Riss!" he breathed, rushing forward.
As he started up the rubble, he saw a hospital first aid kit buried in the rubble and dug it out. He scrambled to the stop and knelt by Riss, but paused. There were bloody rags tied around her stomach, but her clothing was intact. Just then he heard the sound of a rifle cocking. Looking up, he found himself starring down the barrel of Murdoc's gun.
Slowly, MacGyver started to raise his hands. Murdoc stood there for a moment, smiling in triumph. "Well, well," he said. "I see you survived the drop."
"You too," replied MacGyver. He glanced down at Riss. Had Murdoc been the one trying to stop her bleeding?
"Well MacGyver, don't just sit there. Make yourself useful. My daughter is in need of first aid."
MacGyver nodded and opened the kit. He took out the rubbing alcohol and dumped it over Riss'shoulder. Riss breathed in sharply and turned her head. MacGyver put a hand on her good shoulder. "Easy Riss, easy. It's going to be ok. Just got to clean you up.
MacGyver looked closer at her shoulder. "Bullet wound?"
Murdoc looked down guiltily for a moment. "Yes."
MacGyver lifted Riss' shoulder gently. "It's still in there, and her stomach is still bleeding too, we need to try to stop the bleeding."
He ripped off his sleeves and pressed one into the stomach and the other into her shoulder. He looked up at Murdoc. "I could use some help here Murdoc. Pressure is more effective with two hands on each wound."
Murdoc considered for a moment, before shouldering his gun and kneeling down to put pressure on Riss' shoulder. "Don't get any ideas MacGyer," he warned. MacGyver pulled gauze out of the kit and packed it into the stomach wound, and then wrapped it around, tying it tight. He pressed around and got concerned.
"What is it?" asked Murdoc
"One of her ribs may be broken. We've got to be careful not to move her. We don't want it to puncture anything." MacGyver leaned over and started treating her shoulder, trying to slow the bleeding. Murdoc sat back and rested his gun across his knees while MacGyver worked.
Once the shoulder was taken care of, MacGyver started to look her up and down, checking for any more injuries. A whimper escaped from Riss as he touched her leg. The sun had set by now and it was quite dark. He looked up at Murdoc. "Do you have a light?"
Murdoc looked around anxiously, but pulled out a small flashlight and shined it down. MacGyver saw that Riss' lower right leg was at a funny angle. Murdoc saw it too. "Is she going to be alright?"
"It's definitely broken. But, she's young it should heal well. If we can stop her bleeding that is." He looked up at Murdoc. "How did you two survive the fall?"
"Trade secrets I'm afraid MacGyver. I have to keep some advantage over that brain of yours. Just take care of her leg, and quickly," he added looking around anxiously. "Can you do it without the light?"
"One moment," said MacGyver, searching around for something to use as a splint. He spotted some beams and crossed over to grab them. Murdoc stood up with his gun, but he needn't have bothered. MacGyver wasn't going to leave Riss here. Honestly, he was surprised at how concerned Murdoc seemed, but he wasn't sure what his motivations were yet. Or what he was planning.
Coming back over, he gently aligned Riss' leg and lashed it to the beams using the last of the gauze from the kit. As he finished, he leaned back to look over Riss one last time.
"Is it done? Are their any more injuries?" asked Murdoc.
"I'm checking. I don't think so," said MacGyver. Out of nowhere Murdoc jumped forward and kicked MacGyver down the pile of rubble. Riss blinked her eyes open at the sound.
"Stop," she moaned weakly. She tried to rise up, but Murdoc pushed her back down. "Lay still Riss," he whispered, before jumping down to where MacGyver was trying to get up. Murdoc put his foot on his back, keeping him on his hands an knees.
"Murdoc," said an annoyed MacGyver. "Isn't this getting a little old?"
"It is MacGyver. For once, you and I agree completely. I have yet to meet anyone else in this world that is as thorough an annoyance as you are. And know I say that with a great deal of respect."
Murdoc kneeled down on one knee, holding his gun level with MacGyver's face. MacGyver eyed the gun. "You know," said Murdoc, "I don't know if there is anything in this life that would give me more satisfaction than finally putting you six feet under."
In the distance, they both heard the sounds of people coming closer.
"Unfortunately, I can't. Not today at least."
MacGyver glanced up at Riss.
"Yes, much as I hate to admit it, you're her best chance at surviving in this world. Understand MacGyver, by stepping out of my world she may be leaving behind some danger, but she won't lose the target on her back for being my daughter. She's going to need looking after. Believe me, I wish there was another way, but Pete's getting on in years, and Mac Junior isn't exactly inspiring me with confidence. So let's make a deal you and I."
"What kind of a deal?"
"Simple, you can have California, I'll even throw in your precious Minnesota, and I get the rest of the world."
MacGyver stared at Murdoc like he was crazy.
"Honestly MacGyver, this is not that complicated. Stay out of my way, and I'll leave you alone. All of you," he added. "Even Jenny and her new family. But again, stay out of my way. Cross paths with me again, and it's on your heads."
Murdoc stood up and lowered a hand to MacGyver. Cautiously, MacGyver took it and pulled himself up. "Just like that?" he asked.
"I'm afraid so," replied Murdoc.
"What makes you so certain I'll keep my end?"
Murdoc laughed. He started to catch his breath, but then broke down laughing again. Finally, he got control of himself. "MacGyver, not take in a lost stray? Please? Menacing doesn't work on you Mac."
MacGyver just stared at Murdoc in disbelief. "I don't know if I believe you Murdoc."
Murdoc smiled. "That's not really my problem." He turned away and started to walk off, but then paused and came back.
"Oh, and one more thing, when whatever this thing is between your son and my daughter ends,"
"When?!"
"Fine, 'If" if you like. If it ends, let me make one thing clear." Murdoc leaned in closer. "Riss dumps him, he doesn't dump her. Do I make myself clear?"
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Oh MacGyver, haven't you learned yet when to tell I'm joking or not?" Murdoc smiled again. MacGyver tried to stop himself fromshivering. Murdoc always looked like a snake when he smiled.
"Well," said Murdoc brightly. "I must get going." He turned away, but then jerked back around and rammed the butt of his gun into MacGyver's head, making him crumble. "No following," he said to MacGyver's unconscious frame.
Quickly, he hurried up the pile of rubble to Riss. Gently he patted her cheek, calling her name. Riss' eyes fluttered open. "Dad?" she asked groggily. Murdoc smiled. "It's going to be alright Clarissa. If this is the life you want, then take it. Just promise me one thing," he said leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Please, always watch your back." Riss fluttered her eyes. "What about….about….ughh."
"Hush, shhhh," said Murdoc. "Don't worry. I'll leave your new family alone. Just watch out for you." Riss opened her eyes wider. "What...about…..you?"
Murdoc smiled in surprise. "I'll be fine. I just need to pay a visit to some of my employees when I get back." He leaned down and kissed Riss softly on the forehead. "Take care Riss."
He stood and started off. Riss looked back at him as he walked off. She thought about calling out to him one last time, but she couldn't quite do it. Instead she watched him as he disappeared into the darkness, and then everything went dark for her.
…
Sam and Nikki hurried through the darkness. Sam knew they had to wait for the cops to clear each step, but he was glad Nikki was urging them forward quickly. Ahead, they heard a loud groan. Sam jumped forward. "That sounded like Dad."
Nikki nodded, but held her arm out. "Just a moment."
The officer in front gave a nod. All clear. Sam rushed forward. MacGyver was slowly rising from the ground, his hand clutching his head. Sam dropped to his knees and grabbed his shoulders. "Dad, are you okay?"
"Ugh, I will be. Think I'm going to have a headache tomorrow morning though."
"What happened?"
"Murdoc. Parting gift."
"Murdoc?" Sam looked around. "He left you here?"
"Not only that but-"
"We've got another person up here!" called an officer. Sam looked up the pile of ruble.
"It's Riss," said MacGyver. "She's hurt." Sam's brow scrunched. "She'll be okay. They've got to move her carefully though. Go."
Sam looked back down at MacGyver. "I'm fine. Go. I'll explain what happened in a moment."
Nikki came running over. Sam left MacGyver with her and ran up towards Riss. "Get a stretcher down here!" called one of the officers. Sam knelt down by Riss. She turned slowly and looked at him, a small smile crossing her face. "Sam," she said reaching out a hand. "Hey," said Sam taking her hand. "That was some fall." Riss smiled wider. "It's all in the landing." She glanced down at her stomach. "I didn't quite land this one right," she said as she winced. "Don't worry," said Sam. We'll get you to a hospital….a different one." Riss gave a small chuckle. She looked at Sam. "I'm sorry."
"No, no it's alright."
"No, Sam, I'm sorry. I know I wrote it on that photo I left for you, but even then it felt like such a hollow apology. I know I put you through Hell. You and your Dad. I had no right to do that. I don't really have an excuse either. Not for then, and not for now. I just want to say, I'm sorry, for everything. For today too."
Sam nodded. "I know."
Riss nodded and started to close her eyes. "Hey, hey, stay awake," said Sam. Riss' eyes fluttered open again. "Hey, I get it. I can't say I'm happy about everything, but I know what it feels like to be desperate to keep what family you have."
"It's still not an excuse," said Riss. "You wouldn't have done it."
"I don't know about that. Once upon a time maybe. I told you that. That I tried to kill the man who killed my Mom."
Riss nodded. "I remember. But your Dad stopped you?"
"Yeah," said Sam smiling.
Riss smiled. "He seems to do that a lot."
Sam gave a small laugh. Riss tilted her head to look at Sam more fully. "You're a lot like him you know. But not completely." She smiled. "There's a little more mischief about you."
The stretcher arrived and they gently set her on it. "You're mother will meet you in the ambulance," said one of the officers. Sam squeezed Riss' hand one more time. "I'll see you in a bit Riss," he assured her.
Riss didn't let go of his hand. "Sam, thank you," she said.
Sam nodded, and Riss let go and let them carry her out of the pit.
Sam turned back to Nikki and his Dad. Nikki was simultaneously hugging him and berating him. "Don't you do that again. Rushing in like that. Serves you right getting clonked in the head, though I doubt you felt it through that thick skull of yours!"
"I'm happy to see you too Nikki," replied MacGyver.
Sam came down to the two of them.
"So what happens now?" he asked.
MacGyver turned to him. "Murdoc's promised to leave everyone alone. Us, Pete, Jenny, Aaron, the baby. Everyone. He feels that Riss will need the protection."
"He's not wrong about that," said Nikki. "We're going to have to figure out what to do with her. She may not be like her father, but she still has a lot to answer for."
"Well," pointed out MacGyver, "There's not really a whole lot you know enough about to charge her with."
Nikki looked at him in shock. "She was an assasin!"
"We only ever saw her shooting at Murdoc's men," pointed out Sam.
"How about kidnapping and endangerment?!" asked Nikki.
MacGyver made eye contact with Sam. "I don't know anyone who's pressing charges against her for that one."
"You're kidding, right? People have to answer for the mistakes they make MacGyver."
"Well, maybe she can work off her debt to society," offered MacGyver. "She's got a good start so far."
"You're not serious? You want us to hire her at the Phoenix? That would be a clearance nightmare!"
"Well, I know I'd be happy to work with her," stated Sam.
"You know kid, you may be more trouble than your worth," retorted Nikki.
MacGyver laughed. "What happened to 'he shows a lot of promise'?"
"A lot of promise to be as reckless as his father."
"You're the one who said they wanted me back."
"The lesser of two evils. Keeping you in line is better than letting you off."
"Well, if you won't help, I'll have to find another way to keep Riss out of trouble. I mean, between her and Sam, that's already going to be a full time job for me."
Nikki rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
MacGyver gave Nikki one of his most disarming smiles.
"Fine," she conceded. "I'll run it by upper management. Pete will be on your side, and that won't hurt Riss' chances any. Oh, and by the way, neither of you have happened to see my badge have you?" Nikki said, almost accusingly.
"Can't say I have recently," said Sam. "Well, I'm going to go make sure everyone's alright. Bye."
"Hey!" shouted Nikki after him. "Work still starts at 9am sharp on Monday. And you two can find your own way back to L.A."
MacGyver gave Nikki another hug. "Thanks Nikki, for everything."
"Forget it," she said. "Let's get you checked out quickly." She started helping MacGyver up out of the pit. "Not going to lie MacGyver. It's nice to have you back."
MacGyver smiled. "It's good to be back."
"Not worried about Sam anymore?"
"I think I'll always worry about him, but I'll also always be proud of him."
Nikki nodded. "I know what you mean. But don't tell him I said that."
MacGyver smiled. "I won't," he promised.
….
Back in the jungle, Andrew and his co-conspirators were waiting in a tent anxiously for any news.
The woman grabbed the radio again. "Carl should have reported in by now."
"Patience," insisted Andrew. "We'll know soon enough."
The woman paced back and forth. "It's taking too long. We should make a run for it."
"Nonsense. Even if Carl were to fail, there is nothing to tie him back to us. We have been Murdoc's most loyal followers for years."
"Since when has he valued loyalty," sneered the woman.
"Oh, I've always valued loyalty," said a smooth voice. The tent opened, and all three turned in shock towards the figure standing in the entrance.
"Sadly, you three seem to be lacking in both loyalty and subtlety," said Murdoc as he lowered his machine gun at the three of them.
The End of Episode 2
Thanks everyone for the feedback throughout this story!
It was a lot of fun to finally write this one out. That's all I have for now. While finishing this last chapter, I did get an idea for a sequel to this story, but I'll have to take some time to plan the idea out and see if it really works or not. So for now, I'll enjoy reading the other MacGyver stories in this section :)
Edit 3/29/23
So, I ended up not liking my sequel series as much, and I realized it's because I rushed it. I needed to take time to explore Riss in the Phoenix Foundation, and MacGyver adjusting to a new dynamic with Sam. So I'm going to go ahead and do that now. I suspect I'll end up adding 2-3 more episodes, but instead of re-writing my sequel, I'm just going to continue on on this section. So, moe episodes to come shortly!