Present day…

MacGyver didn´t fall nearly as far as he had feared he might, and his early and sudden impact on rocks and gravel stunned him. He slid down the slope with way less control than he had hoped for, sensed his already bruised and battered body protest wildly against scraping over rough ground, and felt the gravel tear his shirt and scratch his skin.

Nevertheless, he was still aware enough to notice that – due to the heavy rainfalls in the whole region during the last days – the river carried high water. Knowing he had no other choice but to pretend having been killed by the explosion, MacGyver allowed his body to drop into the stream anyway. The coldness of the water somewhat revived him, yet also caused him to instinctively hold his breath as he went under. He just barely resisted the urge to swim and let his limp body be carried away by the strong current.

Don´t move! Moreno can still see you! Play dead! Otherwise, they´ll be hot on my tail!

A voice in his head screamed at him to breathe while he strove to estimate how long it might take before he would reach the rapids. Those were out of sight from the camp, meaning he could start swimming from there on without tipping Moreno off that he was still alive… and he definitely would have to start swimming by then if he wanted to keep it that way; if he wanted to make it through the maze of rocks and water without drowning.

MacGyver tried to count the seconds ticking by inwardly but it wasn´t working out all too well while his lungs begged for air and his limbs went numb in the icy water. He, by far, hadn´t reached the number he´d aimed for, and his chest was already aching with oxygen deprivation when he felt a rock brush past his legs and hips.

Mac´s body tensed with immediate alarm about the sensation and he started swimming instantly. He pushed through the surface quickly, gasped for air with relief, and opened his eyes to orient himself. His relief was short-lived though since he saw only white water and rocks around and ahead of himself. He gave his best effort to keep his head above water and stay clear of the boulders, but it didn´t pay off all the time. The cold added to his already weakened condition, as did the water he swallowed, and the several times he crashed into rocks.

Minutes that had seemed endless later, the ravine was getting wider and bending around the mountain ridge, and MacGyver remembered that he had almost made it. Only a little further, then he just had to swim to the river´s bank before he arrived at the small waterfall. He´d rather avoid dropping down that one. But due to his concentration being distracted by his thoughts concerning the waterfall, Mac didn´t notice the fallen tree between the last of the boulders until it was too late. The strong current carried him toward it with no time left to counter.

One of his legs got caught between a strong branch and a rock before he could react and the force of the flood pushed him on and underwater. He hardly avoided crying out with pain as the rough bark tore into his skin and his leg was bent at an awkward angle. MacGyver frantically grabbed on to whatever he could reach of the tree and fought to move against the current while his lungs were again burning with the need for oxygen. He pulled his body back to take some of the strain off his leg, stabilized himself with one hand, and grasped for the branch that forced him in place. He felt for how his leg was wedged in while his vision started to black out at the edges, and desperately pushed and pulled backward to free himself. He broke off some smaller branches in his struggle to survive, and when he could finally yank his leg away from the rock and the tree, the wood of the branch ripped even deeper into it.

With a painful gasp, MacGyver pushed himself off the tree and relied on the current to take him onward since his strength was spent. Barely conscious anymore, he made it to the surface, fought to take a few ragged breaths, but had no energy left to swim for the river´s bank. The rushing water carried MacGyver along as the memory of what lay ahead of him popped up in the back of his mind. The waterfall was a couple of yards high and the pool below it was fairly deep and wide, so there was a good chance he could survive the drop – but he had to avoid drowning afterward.

Teetering on the brink of passing out, MacGyver sensed adrenaline flowing into his veins as he felt himself being carried over the edge and falling. The icy water below engulfed him only moments later, and Mac was instantly caught within the turbulences underneath the waterfall. Hardly able to fight back, the floods pushed MacGyver downward until he touched the rocky ground of the pool. Already numbed by the cold and dazed by the lack of oxygen, in some part of his mind, he realized he had to act if he wanted to survive but couldn´t anymore. Only a few seconds afterward, the thought that should have alarmed him faded away again, and everything around him went dark and quiet.

Peter Thornton crouched down at the edge of the cliff and pulled his binoculars out of his backpack for what felt like the umpteenth time. He took a moment to catch his breath and then looked down to the river. Foot by foot, he scanned the area of the rapids and slopes he could overlook, while he let his search so far pass through his mind.

He´d made it to the end of the airstrip unnoticed by Moreno and his goons, who´d been very busy saving at least part of their weapons shipment. He´d heard several explosions during his hurried hike and suspected that some of the crates – probably those filled with ammunition – had blown due to the fire MacGyver had set off. He hadn´t been able to find a safe way down to the bottom of the ravine though, so Thornton had been forced to look for his rookie from above.

Fortunately, he´d been able to have a good view on the slopes back where MacGyver had presumably been caught by the explosion of the airplane and dropped into the ravine; to the area where Thornton had seen Moreno standing earlier, glaring down to the stream. But other than a few tracks in the gravel, probably caused by someone sliding down the slope, Thornton hadn´t found any trace of MacGyver. No body. Nothing. Meaning, he had to have fallen into the river and been carried away.

So, Thornton had followed the ravine and had checked the river and its banks every few minutes. His hopes had continuously sunken while he had made his way along the rapids, while he´d watched the water rushing through the rocks. By now, he had reached the area where the river was already bending around the end of the mountain ridge, where the ravine was widening, and where the rapids finally ended.

Thornton drew in a deep breath while he searched every yard of the scenery below. He saw a fallen tree partly submerged by the high water, close to the last huge boulders in the river´s bed. Some debris had caught between its branches, but he couldn´t make out any hint of a human body. When he looked further downstream, he spotted the upper edge of a waterfall. Instinctively, he compared his memory of the maps to the area he could oversee from the spot he was kneeling at.

The river´s banks between the end of the rapids and the waterfall were fairly smooth in some places. Thornton suspected MacGyver would have been able to get out of the water at one of them without any problem – had he still been in the physical condition to do so. He might even have been able to climb out of the ravine since the slopes weren´t all too high and steep around here.

But Thornton couldn´t make out any signs or tracks that suggested he had in fact done so.

Pete Thornton set down his binoculars with a deep sigh. All the odds are against MacGyver, he thought. If the young man had made it through the rapids alive… wouldn´t he have tried to swim ashore to avoid the fall? But since he hadn´t… if he had already gotten killed at this point… how far would his body have been taken downstream?

Thornton stuffed his glasses back into his pack and shouldered it. After another long glance down to the river, he got to his feet. Some grief rose within him as he continued his way. Up until now, all the evidence was pointing toward MacGyver being dead. Due to a distraction, he had created to enable Thornton to get away unseen, alive, and with the camera. The senior agent´s steps grew even heavier with the realization that he was the reason for the rookie´s death. That he was somehow responsible for it. He´d known the kid only for a few months… but he´d miss him. He´d learned not only to value MacGyver for his special kind of abilities but also come to like him for the special person he´d been.

After a couple of minutes though, Thornton scolded himself inwardly for allowing such thoughts and feelings concerning his rookie. He´d been in the business long enough to know that their line of work was, by definition, dangerous. Casualties are sometimes given, he reminded himself and forced his concentration back to the forest he was working his way through. He had to find some path around the waterfall and then back to the cave.

If he couldn´t bring MacGyver back with him alive, he at least had to make sure that all the films and whatever intel other than pictures Mac had gathered were taken to the DXS and put to good use. To at least give this loss some meaning…

Silence… a sensation similar to floating… then the rushing of water close by… and the rustling of soft wind in the trees. A distant bird calling.

Slowly, MacGyver came aware of the sounds surrounding him. Then he noticed his head, shoulders, and most of his upper body resting on something, while his arms and everything below his waist were slightly moved by something else. That bit of movement, and how the inside of his head seemed to be swimming with it, reminded him of the necessity for him to breathe, to supply his system with enough oxygen.

Wheezing, he consciously tried to draw air deep into his lungs, but almost instantly went into a coughing fit. His back arched convulsively, and some water, he´d aspirated, spluttered out of his mouth when he turned his head sideways. It took several moments until he had regained some control over his breath and let his body sag back to the ground.

Next, he noticed the icy cold within his body and couldn´t help but start shivering uncontrollably between labored breaths. Needing to finally find out what had happened to him after the drop down the waterfall, and where he was, MacGyver forced his eyes open. At first, he saw only the blue sky above him. Cautiously, he tilted his head to both sides, gave his eyes some time to focus, and soon recognized the pool right below the waterfall.

I´ve been here during the first few days… to refill my water bottles… before I got captured… Slowly the thoughts surfaced one after another in his woozy mind. Seems I was washed ashore… and didn´t drown… this place isn´t all too far from the cave… where I should be able to meet Thornton again.

The relief his thoughts caused, made him breathe deeper – but that sent Mac coughing once more. Automatically, he wanted to turn sideways in an attempt to easier get rid of the congestion in his airways, yet froze almost instantly with a hoarse cry. The cold had numbed his body and limbs, but with his movement a sharp pain flashed through his leg, effectively reminding him of how he´d gotten stuck underwater between rock and fallen tree. Reflexively, one of his hands flinched toward his injured leg, while coughs still shook his body.

It took a couple of moments until he´d calmed down again, by then lying on his side, trembling with the cold, and moaning quietly with the agony it all caused. MacGyver squeezed his eyes shut, strove to remain in control of his heavy breathing, and tried to relax his wounded leg to ease the hurting. Slowly, he realized what was moving him was the icy water lapping against his limbs, and that he was still lying more than half in the pool. Only his head and upper body had caught on the gravelly river bank, keeping him from being washed even further downstream while unconscious.

Better get out of this freezing cold water, MacGyver sighed inwardly. At least, I don´t need to worry about dehydration anymore…

Feebly, Mac pulled both arms under himself, pushed himself a little up, and felt his bruised body complain wildly at his attempt. He gritted his teeth to keep them from chattering and to keep another pained cry from escaping when he drew his good leg under himself, and then pushed and pulled himself onto the river´s bank, dragging his injured leg behind. He fought back a wave of vertigo and nausea as he slowly moved upward. He couldn´t remember all too clearly what had happened to him underwater, only that his knee had been sprained and the branches had torn into his skin and flesh.

MacGyver granted himself a break as soon as he had made it completely onto solid ground. He let his body relax, rested his forehead on the gravel, and strove to calm his breath for a few moments. Still trembling with the cold, Mac then propped himself up on one elbow and turned sideways to take a look at this wound.

He drew in a sharp breath at the sight of the torn and bloodied leg of his pants and cautiously pulled the fabric aside. He stabilized himself on one arm while the fingers of his free hand probed around the bleeding gashes above and below his knee. Mac bit back a groan when he noticed something – probably wooden splinters – embedded in the wound, but knew he couldn´t do anything about them right now. He had to make it back to the cave first – where his first aid kit was stashed. All he could do for now was slow the bleeding.

MacGyver sat up a little swaying and gathered some strength before he ripped the sleeves off his shirt. Then he rested his injured one over his good leg, tied the sleeves together, and as tight as he could around his thigh, just above the injuries. His hands were unsteady due to the agony it caused and because the shivers running through his body increased with the pain. Mac lowered his head, held himself upright with both hands once he was done, and suppressed another moan.

A few deep breaths later, despite his dizziness, MacGyver raised his head and oriented himself. Soon, he remembered the direction he had to take to get to his shelter, turned around, and pushed himself onto his good knee. He crawled upward until he had reached the nearest tree, and with its help pulled himself up until he was standing. Cautiously, he tried out if his wounded leg would carry at least some of his weight and managed to limp the few steps toward the next tree.

A brief glance at his watch told him, it was only around midday, and the memory of Thornton telling him about a helicopter scheduled to pick them up tomorrow evening popped up in his mind. So, no need to rush, he mused grimly as he hobbled forward. The cave isn´t all too far from here… a little more than half an hour… under normal circumstances… might take a bit longer in my current situation.

A couple of minutes afterward, however, MacGyver stopped panting heavily. He held on to a tree trunk and took his weight completely off his injured leg with an agonized gasp. The forest seemed to be moving around him as he scanned it with his eyes. He couldn´t deny anymore just how worn out he was.

No harm in taking a break and getting a little rest, he thought. But I´ll need a hiding place… just for the small possibility that Moreno´s men are searching the forest for me.

Mac spotted a dense thicket in front of a row of huge boulders close by, gathered his last ounces of will and strength, and staggered on toward the bushes. He had hardly reached them when his legs finally gave out, and he dropped to his knees with a painful grunt. Not willing to give up, Mac crawled forward slowly on his hands and one knee, dragging his wounded leg along.

As soon as he was hidden between rock and thicket, MacGyver allowed himself to lie down. He rested his forehead on the ground and let his aching body find a somewhat comfortable position. But he was still freezing badly in his cold, wet clothes and each shiver sent a fresh wave of agony through his leg. He tried to breathe deep, tried to fight the dizziness weakening him even further, knowing he couldn´t afford to pass out. Mac knew he had to stay awake, he had to stay alert. But only minutes later, the last of his energy was spent. Everything around him drifted away … and went silent.

Thornton had had to keep some distance from the river while he´d continued his way, and had been forced to avoid the steep and rocky slopes close to the waterfall. He made his way through the woods and, after a small while, he realized he wasn´t all too far from the cave anymore. He stopped briefly, checked his location with the help of map and satellite pictures, and glanced at his watch for the time. Just a little after midday, he noticed and mused about how to make good use of the remaining hours of daylight.

Thornton drew in a deep breath, considered his options, and then decided to give his search for MacGyver´s body one last shot. He´d circle back to the area below the waterfall where the river´s banks were easily accessible. He had to refill his water canteen anyway. The sound of the rushing water helped the senior agent aim, while he hiked over rough terrain, taking a wide bend around an area with huge boulders and dense thicket, and soon he´d found the pool below the waterfall.

He approached it a bit hesitantly, not really looking forward to finding a human body floating face-down in the water. As he stepped out of the woods, onto the shore surrounding the pool, and spotted nothing but the undisturbed shimmering surface, Thornton couldn´t suppress a small relieved sigh although he knew it also meant he might be forced to call in a search party as soon as he would meet the helicopter tomorrow evening. Making sure MacGyver´s body would be recovered was his last and only chance to repay the young man for what he owed him.

Thornton´s shoulders slumped as he clipped the water bottle off his belt and walked toward the water´s edge. Slowly, he knelt down, opened the bottle, and dipped it underwater. His gaze wandered around while air and water switched places within the canteen. As soon as the bottle was full, Thornton straightened himself, sat back on his heels, and screwed the cap back on.

All of a sudden, he froze as his eyes caught on something a few feet beside him. Some of the gravel of the river bank was slightly disturbed, but what made him hold his breath were reddish-brown stains on said gravel, at a little distance to the water´s edge. Pete Thornton sensed adrenaline electrify him, and instantly got to his feet, while he automatically fastened the bottle back on his belt. Three quick steps took him over to the stains and he crouched down to examine them closer. He cautiously touched the stains with his fingers, noticed they had dried up, and only seconds later was convinced that those stains were, in fact, blood.

With renewed determination, although he couldn´t be sure if it was human blood, Thornton raised his head and scanned his surroundings for more tracks. It took only a moment to spot boot marks in the moist soil next to a tree at the forest´s edge, a couple of yards away. Hastily, Thornton got up and hurried over, and also saw dragging marks leading to and from the tracks. A small glimmer of hope rose within him and refueled his energy reserves. While he searched the ground around himself for further signs, he chided himself inwardly for not being better at reading tracks.

But then he realized something else. If MacGyver was wounded and the source of those blood stains and tracks… he would have tried to return to the cave… to his shelter… on the shortest route possible for him. Thornton straightened himself and turned to the direction that would take him directly to the cave. Step by step he walked off into the forest, keeping his eyes out for the slightest hints on the ground, narrowing them for more concentration.

The tracks got harder to see with every minute he strode on, but the dragging marks got more visible… which worried Thornton. And then, close to the huge rocks Thornton had avoided earlier, they stopped, since there was next to no soil covering the also rocky ground around here. Thornton took a few steps forward, and checked if the trail would continue further onward, but hurried to return when he found nothing.

If MacGyver hasn´t vanished… or built something that enables him to fly… he has to be close by… probably resting… definitely hiding. Now, where would the kid choose to hide?

Thornton gazed around himself slowly, trying to figure out which place Mac might use as shelter. Following a hunch, he then hurried off toward the huge boulders and the thicket growing in front of them. He´d barely reached the thicket when he froze with a mixture of shock and relief at the sight of well-worn hiking boots and the lower end of torn and bloodied cargo pants covering long legs. He took two more cautious steps forward and saw MacGyver´s lanky frame lying between rock and bush, stretched out half on his side, half on his front, motionless.

Thornton drew in a sharp breath, shook off his paralysis, and rushed to Mac´s side.

"Thank God." he sighed when he crouched down and noticed the young man was unconscious, but still breathing. Then he saw him shivering, saw the wet hair matted to his head, and how pale his face was.

"MacGyver?" he asked low.

Carefully, Thornton reached out and touched MacGyver´s upper arm, close to his shoulder, when he got no reaction. Instantly, he sensed the dampness of his clothes and felt the coldness of his skin where the fabric of his shirt´s sleeves was missing.

"MacGyver?" he tried again, this time a little more determined and a bit louder. He didn´t want to startle the young man. But still… he didn´t stir. Thornton finally gave the arm a gentle squeeze, then softly shook him.

"Mac!"

Silence.

Freezing cold.

Mac wasn´t sure if he´d heard someone call his name when a tremor sent fresh waves of pain through his body. Slowly, the memories of what he had been through during the last few days crept back into his foggy mind. Suddenly, someone held onto his arm. Addressed him again, but the voice seemed so distant. Then shook him. In an instant, the voice was next to him.

MacGyver needed a second to react, but then – not knowing who was by his side – terror rushed through him. He couldn´t afford to get caught again. He flinched back, bolted up and backward, at the same time raising his hands, ready to defend himself, and forced his eyes open. In the next second, his back collided painfully with the boulder he had collapsed close to, and before he´d even recognized him, the man in front of him caught both his forearms with his hands.

"Whoa! Calm down!" the voice called out to him. It sounded familiar now.

"It´s alright, MacGyver! … It´s just me."

Mac´s eyes needed a moment to focus and to identify Pete Thornton steadying him.

"Sir?" he croaked unbelievingly, but allowed the tension to leave his arms, and let his body sag back to the ground. His eyes fell closed again and he groaned with the agony the sudden movement had caused to his battered body. Thornton let go of his arms and laid one hand on the young man´s forehead in an attempt to stabilize Mac´s head as serious tremors shook him. His second hand automatically felt for MacGyver´s pulse on his neck and found it racing.

"Yes, it´s me," he confirmed with a carefully controlled voice. His relief about finding his rookie alive mixed with alarm about his condition and worries about how to keep him alive until the helicopter would pick them up. Or how to even get him to the pick-up location. But his thoughts were cut short when MacGyver´s hand grabbed onto his arm and pulled the hand away from his neck.

"I´m okay." the young man breathed while his eyes were still closed.

"Okay?" Thornton exclaimed exasperatedly and sucked in a sharp breath. The pained grimace on MacGyver´s face had faded but his labored breathing did nothing to ease up Thornton´s concerns. "Let me check your eyes, kid." he urged, intent on continuing his examination of the younger one. "Come on, look at me!"

MacGyver slowly turned his head toward his boss and obeyed, blinking his eyes open although his headache worsened. He let Thornton test their response to dimness and light but then raised his eyebrows questioningly. Thornton let out a small sigh when both of Mac´s eyes reacted normally.

"You lost some blood… your skin feels cold to the touch… you´re shaking like a leaf… and your heart rate is way too high." Thornton summed up his worries. "You seem to be battling a serious shock, MacGyver."

"No…" Mac slowly, cautiously shook his head. "My pulse is up because you startled me awake a few moments ago… and I´m freezing because the river´s water I had to swim through is kinda icy." A feeble and lopsided smile widened on his face with Thornton´s still exasperated expression. "Haven´t reached the cave yet… couldn´t change into my dry spares so far, sorry."

Pete Thornton was baffled by MacGyver´s cheeky answer and stared at him silently for a few seconds. Then he regained his composure, straightened himself a little, and pulled back his hand from MacGyver´s forehead.

"Fine… if you say so," he answered with some doubt in his voice. "What about your leg? What happened? Did you get injured by the explosion?"

MacGyver bit his lower lip as another shiver sent waves of agony through his leg.

"No… that kinda worked out," he explained between shallow breaths. "While swimming through the rapids… my leg got caught in the branches of a fallen tree… got pushed underwater… and nearly drowned before I could free myself… couldn´t avoid the drop down the waterfall… the turbulences below pulled me to the bottom of the pond… and I passed out but was washed ashore."

Talking that much sent him into a coughing fit and made his sore throat and lungs ache anew. MacGyver curled up on his side, wrapped his arms protectively around himself, and quickly sensed Thornton holding on to his shoulder and steadying his head. When he had settled down, MacGyver instinctively felt for his injured leg and couldn´t suppress a moan. Thornton gave him another moment to relax, then gently drew back his hands and concentrated on the wounds.

"Seems you´ve been lucky." he stated, still doubting Mac´s 'I´m okay'. "Now let me see your injury."

When he pulled back the bloodied and sticky fabric, he sensed MacGyver´s body stiffen a little and heard him draw in a sharp breath. MacGyver rolled over to lie half on his back, withdrew the hand from his thigh, and covered his eyes with it. Thornton subconsciously held his breath when he got a first good look at the gashes above and below MacGyver´s knee. But all the concerns flashing through his head were cut off when MacGyver suddenly addressed him.

"Sometimes… I´d rather be lucky than good…" he replied between strained gasps. "But what about you, Sir? Did my little diversion enable you to get away unseen?"

For a few seconds, the senior agent was surprised by the question, yet then realized the young man was trying to keep his mind from focusing on the hands examining his leg. He chose to play along with Mac´s intention.

"You call that a 'little diversion'?" he asked perplexed and glanced sideways at Mac´s face. "You blew up their workshop, the plane, and a good part of their weapons shipment!"

MacGyver half-raised the hand covering his eyes and gazed at Thornton from under it.

"Had to keep them occupied. Didn´t have enough time to come up with something better," he explained. "Didn´t have a lot of choices either." Mac shrugged with an apologetic half-grin. "Can´t say I´m sorry though…"

Thornton stared at him stunned for a couple of seconds before he returned his focus to MacGyver´s leg and cautiously probed along the injuries.

"Yes, your distraction worked just fine for me." he acknowledged. "They still shouldn´t have any idea I´m around… and Moreno seemed to believe you´ve been killed. So far, they didn´t even try to go after you."

"That´s good…" MacGyver said but broke off biting back a pained cry when Thornton´s fingers found the wooden splinters still embedded in his wound.

"Don´t!" he hissed through gritted teeth and raised his head a little when Thornton tried to pull on one of the fragments.

Thornton´s hand froze and he looked sideways at MacGyver´s face again.

"Something´s stuck in there." the agent declared.

"I know." Mac shot back.

"We gotta get it out." Thornton continued. "Otherwise it will…"

"Agreed, but not now." MacGyver cut him off hastily. "It´ll only worsen the bleeding while we hike back to the cave. We can take proper care of those wounds once we´ve reached our camp."

Their eyes locked, and Thornton had to admit, he knew his rookie was right. He set down his backpack and dug out the remains of his first aid kit.

"Fine. But I´m going to cover it," he said while he pulled out some swabs and a gauze bandage.

MacGyver nodded, puffed out the breath he´d been holding, and relaxed back to the ground as Thornton placed the dressings on his wounds and wrapped the bandage tightly around his leg.

"Alright." The senior agent nodded with a small sigh when he was done and shouldered his pack again. "You sure you´ll be able to walk that far?"

"Well… seems I don´t have much choice on this, Sir," Mac replied dryly. "Help me get up." He reached out to Thornton with the hand he had shielded his eyes with.

Pete Thornton eyed him full of doubt, yet after a moment of hesitation, he nodded once more. MacGyver was right. It wasn´t as if they had a lot of options. He turned a little, held on to MacGyver´s wrist, and waited until the young man had a secure grip as well. He also supported him behind his shoulders when MacGyver gingerly sat up. Mac then wrapped his arm around Thornton´s shoulders and let the older man haul him to his feet. He stood swaying at first and had to hold on to Thornton until he had steadied himself. Mac shivered, nevertheless wanted to let go of his boss a moment later, but Thornton tightly gripped his belt around his back.

"No way. Hold on." the senior agent ordered. "You´re gonna let me help you, kid."

MacGyver shot him a hesitant sideways glance but nodded.

"Yes, Sir."

Thornton drew in a deep breath, raised his head, and directed his gaze to the forest, up to where he suspected the cave to be.

"Alright, you know this mountain better than me," he said. "You know which way you should be able to cope with. Where to?"

MacGyver straightened himself and turned his head to reorient himself. Then he focused on a direction slightly upward the slope and pointed toward it with his free hand.

"This way."