A/N: Greetings readers and fellow writers! I hope you all had an enjoyable summer. Welcome back to Mac and Joanna's continuing journey as they navigate life, love, and dangerous events that have a knack for finding them! As always, feedback via reviews/private messaging is always greatly appreciated and helps keep me motivated. ENJOY!

Chapter 41: Saving Jack

March 24, 1998

MacGyver rested his head on the back of the seat and turned to stare out the airplane's small window. A bright blue sky punctuated with wispy clouds stared back. Less than an hour into the flight, some of his fellow passengers were already snoring softly. Oh, how he wished for peaceful slumber to claim him. Unfortunately, he knew from the long, lonely night before that every time he closed his eyes it would be to see the parting look on Joanna's face. Her empty expression, her tear-filled eyes as she told him she needed time to figure out her place in his life. How could she not see that her place was right beside him forever? But Nikki Carpenter and Craig Bannister had regaled her with tales of his past adventures with the DXS and Phoenix Foundation, causing her to doubt their compatibility. Would his past always haunt him? Would it always get in the way of his future? Not if he could help it. Not this time. He would give Jo the space she needed to think things through and take comfort in the fact that she still wore his engagement ring as a symbol of their commitment to each other. He would go to Los Angeles and confirm that Jack Dalton was alive and well. And then he would return to Milwaukee. Return home. And fight for their love.

Later that afternoon, MacGyver parked his rental car in front of the Hacienda Village Apartments. He strolled up to the wrought iron security gate and scanned the buzzer panel for Jack's name but couldn't find it. Movement in the courtyard caught his eye and he looked up to find a tall, leggy blonde a few yards away.

"Excuse me!" he called. "I'm looking for Jack Dalton."

"Join the club," she replied sarcastically while giving him an exaggerated eye roll. "The rat snuck outta here in the middle of the night owin' me three months' back rent."

"What? Where'd he go?"

"Ya got me, but rumor has it he's been hangin' out at a place called The Wingman Bar. If you find him, tell him I still want my money." The blonde abruptly turned her back and headed toward the building. Conversation over.

Mac slid back behind the wheel of the car, his mind reeling. Up until a few weeks ago, Jack had a lucrative air limo business until one of his regular clients turned out to be an international jewel smuggler and was now in federal custody. What had Jack been doing that caused him to get in the red with his apartment manager? Nothing made sense.

A short time later, MacGyver pulled up in front of The Wingman. It must have been about ten years since he and Jack had come here to find Francine Leyland Dalton, Jack's birth mother who had given her infant son up for adoption. Mac took a deep breath before climbing from the car and making his way to the front door. He crossed the threshold and paused, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dim, smoky interior. The place was empty except for a figure in a bomber jacket and lopsided aviator cap hunched over the bar. MacGyver walked over and took a seat.

"Whatcha doin' here, Jack?"

"Drowning my sorrows. What are you doin' here?"

"Lookin' for you."

"Well, you found me. Now go home." Jack drained the amber liquid from his shot glass and set it down next to a number of others.

"According to some people I am home," Mac muttered, before returning his focus to his friend. "I need to know you're okay and from the looks of it, you're not. What's goin' on?"

"Barkeep, get me refill, and get a carrot juice for my friend here!"

"I went by your apartment," MacGyver said softly.

"Yeah, so?"

"So I wanna know what happened to you!" Mac replied, his patience quickly eroding.

"You wanna know what happened to me?! I'll tell you what happened to me!" Jack spat. "When I got back from the Caymans the FBI raided my bank account. Turns out Frank and Nanette had been passing me funny money all along. Then my insurance company won't pay out...somethin' about crashin' two planes in less than two years. To top it off, Nanette and I were never really married. Even the Wayne Newton minister was a fake. So there you go! That's what happened to me! I'm flat broke and homeless...unless you count this place."

"You've been livin' here?" Mac asked as he surveyed his surroundings with a grimace.

"I've been crashin' up in the office."

"Where's your mom?"

"Who knows? Probably takin' a three month cruise."

"Why didn't you call me, Jack?"

"Why? So you could ride to the rescue and bail me out like you always do?"

"Yeah! That's what friends are for!"

"Not this time, buddy. I'm not draggin' you down with me this time. Go home to Joanna, your dog, and your white picket fence. I'll be fine."

"You call this 'fine'?" Mac countered. "I'm not leavin' til you're back on your feet."

For the first time since this conversation began, Jack caught MacGyver's gaze, giving him a squinty-eyed glare.

"Somethin's goin' on with you, too," the pilot stated. "C'mon, I spilled my guts, now it's your turn."

Mac turned away and rubbed the back of his neck. "Joanna's havin' second thoughts...about me," he confessed quietly.

"Aw, man, I'm sorry," Jack replied, the edge from his voice gone. "Wanna talk about it?"

"Not really. I was kinda plannin' on bunkin' with you while she sorts stuff out."

"Mi casa es su casa," Jack quipped, looking pointedly at the glass windows of the 'control tower' facade of the upstairs office.

XXXXX

MacGyver flopped down on the threadbare excuse for a couch while Jack headed to the bathroom. He grabbed the remote and clicked on the television to a national news station.

"Our top news story this evening takes us to Prince William Sound, Alaska, where an American oil tanker struck the Bligh Reef early this morning causing a massive spill. Coast Guard officials report that the spill has been contained and is considerably smaller than the Exxon Valdez disaster that occurred in approximately the same location nine years ago today. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and several smaller agencies including the Phoenix Foundation in Los Angeles are in the process of mobilizing clean-up crews to send to the area. We will update this story as soon as more information becomes available."

"Hey Jack! Did ya hear that?!"

"Hear what?" Jack asked, emerging from the smaller room.

"There's been an oil spill near Alaska."

"So?"

"The anchorman said that the Phoenix Foundation is sending some people to help out. I was thinkin' I could give them a call and see if they could use a couple extra volunteers."

"Wait? What? You wanna go to Alaska?!"

"No Jack. I want us to go to Alaska!"

"And leave the warm sunny clime of Southern California? I'll take a pass."

"C'mon, it'd be good for you. For both of us. Ya know, get outta the city, get back to nature, do some good while we're at it. What else have you got goin'? A hot date with a cocktail waitress?"

"Naw," Jack groused. "Even the waitresses here won't go out with me since I found out I'm broke."

"Then it's settled," Mac declared, getting up from the couch and heading to the phone sitting on a battered wooden desk. He dialed the familiar number and waited until a voice greeted him on the other end.

"Hey Willis! It's Mac! How ya doin'?"

"Hi Mac! I'm good. What's up?"

"I just heard on the news that Phoenix is goin' up to Alaska to help out with the oil spill and I figured you'd be the one headin' up the team."

"Sure am!" Willis replied with a pride and confidence in his voice that made MacGyver smile.

"Was wonderin' if you could use some extra help."

"Aw, gee, Mac. I know you care about the environment as much as I do, but I can't ask you to come out to L.A. much less go to Alaska!"

MacGyver couldn't help but laugh. "I'm already in Los Angeles," he informed the scientist. "I'm catchin' up with an old friend and we'd like to join your team if you'll have us."

"That'd be great! We plan to leave at first light. Meet us at the airport. I'll pack some extra cold-weather gear for you."

"Sounds good! We'll be there!" Mac confirmed before hanging up the phone to find Jack watching him, his face contorted as if he had just eaten a very sour lemon.

XXXXX

Early the next morning, MacGyver and Jack arrived at the airport to meet the rest of the team. After everyone had been introduced and boarded the plane, Willis took command of the conversation.

"We'll be flying into Juneau where we will board helicopters to take us to Tatitlek which is approximately a mile and a half from the site of the spill. FEMA is already on the ground setting up a command post. Since there are no motels, FEMA will be providing us with trailers to bunk in for the duration of our stay."

Jack leaned over and whispered to Mac, "No motels? Not a one? What kinda place is this?"

"A very small one, Jack." MacGyver had picked up an Alaskan guide book before leaving Los Angeles. "It's very isolated and only accessible by plane, chopper, or boat. Only about a hundred people live there, give or take, and the majority are Native Americans followed by Caucasians."

Jack looked as if he wanted to say more, but Willis's voice grew louder. "I'll be working with those assigned to clean-up of the actual spill. MacGyver, due to your training and experience in handling biohazardous materials, I'm putting you on wildlife rescue and recovery. Jack, you'll be stationed with members of the EPA and local volunteers to help clean up the surviving animals and birds."

"Will we be doing an investigation into the cause of the spill?" a young Phoenix employee asked.

"Not at this time," Willis replied with authority. "The Coast Guard is classifying it as an accident due to dangerous weather conditions, plain and simple. Our presence is strictly to support clean-up and recovery efforts and advise as needed."

"I thought after the Exxon Valdez incident new protocol was put in place to keep something like this from happening," Mac remarked.

Once again, Willis was right on top of the conversation. "You're right. Tankers must now be guided through the area with at least one Escort Response Vehicle. Unfortunately, a major squall line formed and passed through the area before they could adjust the route. The ERV began the response effort immediately and are to thank for keeping the spill as small as it is."

XXXXX

As soon as the chopper skids touched the tarmac of the Tatitlek airport, everyone grabbed an armload of supplies and bailed out.

"Whoa! Who turned on the air conditioning?!" Jack exclaimed.

MacGyver shot his friend an amused grin. "It's got nothin' on those northern Minnesota winters when we were in high school. You gettin' soft on me?"

Jack scowled and pulled up the collar of his jacket as he followed Mac to a row of black SUV's.

"These'll take us to the high school campus where field headquarters is set up," Willis explained over his shoulder as he walked ahead of them. "We'll get settled and then head on over to the cafeteria for a late lunch that's serving as a mess hall for all personnel. Then we'll go take a look at the spill."

It was a short trek from the airfield to the school. A large, though obviously temporary, structure on the far corner of the campus appeared to be the nerve center of the operation.

"What are those?" Jack asked as they climbed from the vehicle.

"Those are the FEMA trailers you'll be staying in," Willis declared.

"They look like shipping containers!"

Willis chuckled. "They may not look like much from the outside, but the inside is quite adequate. Each unit is outfitted with a bedroom and two twin beds, a small living area, and bathroom with shower. There are two propane tanks that provide fuel for the stove and central heating."

"See, all the comforts of home," MacGyver remarked cheerfully.

"There's also a kitchen area, but you'll probably be either too tired or too busy to make use of it."

"Hence the mess hall," Mac deduced.

Once trailers had been assigned and meager possessions tucked away, the Phoenix group waited in line at the cafeteria. MacGyver held up his plastic tray as a stout woman behind the counter plopped a heaping spoonful of mashed potatoes into one of the compartments with a bit more force than necessary. Mac smiled and thanked her only to receive a frown in return. The other servers, all citizens of the small town, were a bit friendlier but still guarded. Granted, they must be upset with the oil spill as well as strangers descending on their land, but everyone was here to help. MacGyver gave a mental shrug and headed for a table.

Upon leaving the mess hall, everyone once again piled into waiting SUV's that took them to the site of the incident. Environmental engineers operated booms and skimmers in an attempt to collect as much oil from the surface of the water as possible. Unfortunately, the rocky, cove-lined shore hampered their efforts. Willis led them to an official looking man in a suit who was holding a clipboard and introduced the Phoenix team.

"Have you been able to determine who was at fault for this accident?" Mac asked as he shook the man's hand.

"Mother Nature," the official replied in a clipped, matter-of-fact tone. At MacGyver's quirked eyebrow he continued, "A storm blew up unexpectedly and threw the tanker and escort off course. The hull of the tanker struck the reef, but if she'd been sitting lower in the water it would've been a lot worse."

This correlated with the explanation Willis had offered earlier, but something about it didn't sit right with Mac. Willis talked to the man for several more minutes before turning his attention to his colleagues.

"I'm gonna stay here and discuss containment and clean-up strategies. Those of you not directly assigned to this aspect of the operation can return to base and wait until morning to receive further instruction."

Back at headquarters, Jack climbed into the trailer he was sharing with Mac and took a nap while MacGyver, not wanting to waste the only free time he might have in a while, commandeered a vehicle and drove into town which was really only a couple blocks long with a limited variety of businesses lining the street. He parked in front of a small grocery store and went inside to collect some staples to keep in the trailer. The cashier at the check-out counter scanned a few items before looking up at him.

"You in town to help with the spill?

"Yeah, I am," Mac replied.

The young woman once again looked down and fixed her attention on bagging his groceries.

"Can I ask you something?" MacGyver inquired.

The cashier shrugged.

"I've only been here a few hours, but I get the feeling we're not exactly welcome. I understand our presence is disrupting the town, but we're only here to help. Is there something I should know?"

This time the cashier looked him squarely in the eye. "We know that, and trust me, we appreciate it. No one is mad at you guys. It's the oil companies we're upset with. Their greed caused this to happen."

MacGyver's senses went on high alert. "What are ya talkin' about?"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything," she replied, glancing nervously around the store before taking his payment and sending him on his way.

Mac arrived back at the trailer with just enough time to put his groceries away before heading over to the mess hall with the others. For the second time that day he stood in line, clutching his plastic meal tray. He scanned the line of servers and saw many of the same faces from earlier, now looking more haggard and worn. They must have started preparing for supper as soon as the lunch crowd had been served. Mashed-potato-lady now stood at the end of the line, placing a dinner roll on everyone's tray. When MacGyver came to stand in front of her, he half expected to have the round piece of bread tossed in his face. Much to his relief, the woman placed it gently next to his helping of steamed carrots.

"Thanks!" he offered with a friendly smile. While she didn't smile back, she didn't frown like earlier.

MacGyver, Jack, and Willis lingered over their dinner long after the others had left and the cafeteria volunteers had retreated into the kitchen to clean up and prepare for the following day.

"Has a course of action been decided on?" Mac asked Willis in regards to the oil spill clean-up.

The scientist nodded. "We're going with an air drop of chemical dispersants on the main spill along with a biological agent near the shoreline."

"When's the drop?"

Willis sighed. "Unfortunately, the weather isn't on our side. Conditions need to be near perfect for the chopper to release its load on the bulls eye and that may not happen for a couple more days. In the meantime, we'll continue using booms and skimmers to contain the oil and clean up as much as we can."

"What about me and Mac?" Jack asked.

"An orientation session has been scheduled first thing tomorrow morning with a wildlife rescue expert. Holly will explain what you need to do and you'll get to work immediately. The sooner we get to the affected animals, the better their chances for survival."

An hour before dawn the following day found MacGyver by the back door to the cafeteria waiting for the volunteers to arrive. Somehow it didn't surprise him that mashed-potato-slash-dinner-roll lady was the first to appear, her straight black hair woven into a tight braid that hung far down her back.

"Mornin'!" he greeted her with a friendly smile.

"We don't start serving until sun-up," she replied flatly as she unlocked the door.

"I'm not here to eat. I was hopin' we could talk. About the oil spill."

"I got nothin' to say."

"You and your neighbors don't believe it was an accident," MacGyver ventured.

He watched as her obsidian eyes quickly scanned the area before a slight nod of her head invited him into the kitchen. She turned on the lights and quickly closed the door.

"It was an accident, alright. An accident waiting to happen," she blustered.

"So I've heard. Tell me what's goin' on."

She appeared to deflate before his eyes. "I cannot say anything more. You and your friends get to leave here when your job is done. But me, my family, my neighbors, we must stay."

So, the members of this small community weren't just angry. They were scared.

"Look, I know people," Mac told her. "People who can fix whatever's goin' on here so you don't have to keep secrets anymore."

He held his breath as he waited for her reply. She was just about to say something when voices from outside and the jiggling of the doorknob caused her mouth to snap shut. "You must go now," she said, turning her back to him as she walked away.

XXXXX

Over the next two days, MacGyver donned protective gear from head to toe and headed out with groups of trained volunteers to search for affected wildlife while Jack stayed at headquarters and assisted with cleaning the surviving animals. The slick, rocky shoreline made for slow progress which was further impeded by strong winds and cold, intermittent rain showers. Mac's heart broke a little each time he found a sea bird attempting to flap its oil-soaked wings or a harbor seal struggling to breathe through pollutant-covered nostrils. He tenderly picked the creatures up and cooed to them softly as he placed them gently in carriers to take back to headquarters. His heart broke even more when he encountered those that had not survived and just as gently deposited them in the appropriate containers. At night, Jack would joke about having 'dishpan hands' and MacGyver would chuckle like his friend expected, silently envious that Jack had been spared the sight of so much death and destruction.

When Mac reported for his third day of work, he was pulled to the side by Holly, the wildlife rescue expert who had given the volunteers their orientation.

"Why don't you stay here and help with the cleaning," she suggested, her eyes full of empathy.

MacGyver shook his head. "I'm good."

"No, you're not," she countered. "You've been out there for two days straight. I remember my first rescue and recovery assignments. I could only do a couple hours at a time. Stay here today and bathe the little guys we bring in."

Mac nodded his acquiescence, grateful for the reprieve. He spent the next few hours next to Jack, his hands immersed in hot water treated with a gentle cleaning agent as his fingers coaxed the crude oil from the feathers of various birds unlucky enough to be on or near the shore when the spill occurred. He laughed when some would stretch and flap their newly cleansed wings, spraying him with sudsy water.

It was almost noon when a loud ruckus drew everyone outside. MacGyver caught a glimpse of a man being loaded into the bed of a rusty pick-up truck. Holly stood off to the side, concern marring her otherwise pretty face.

"What happened?" Mac asked her with Jack on his heels.

"Clyde was climbing a boulder to rescue a sea otter when he lost his footing and fell. Looks like his leg is busted. They're taking him to the clinic now."

"Tough break," Jack murmured, earning him a scowl from the woman. "Sorry, it's just an expression," he added defensively.

"I know," Holly sighed, "It's just that Clyde was supposed to fly out our first group of rescues tomorrow. There's a wildlife center in Valdez where they will recuperate until they're ready to go back to their natural habitat."

"Two choppers flew us in. You must have another pilot around here somewhere, right?" MacGyver asked.

Before Holly could speak, Willis answered for her. "Yes, and we need him tomorrow. The National Weather Service is predicting a break in the rain before another system comes in. We'll only have a small window of opportunity to drop the dispersants so we need him here and ready at a moment's notice."

"This temporary site isn't equipped to handle the number of animals we're dealing with, especially not long-term. Already some of the first ones we rescued are showing signs of shock and dehydration," Holly pointed out.

Mac turned to Willis. "You only need one chopper for the drop, right?"

"Yeah," the scientist confirmed with a nod.

"That means we can use the other one to transport the animals," MacGyver reasoned.

"And who, exactly, is gonna fly it?" Holly asked, her voice laden with dejection.

"Jack!"

"Me?!"

"Yeah," MacGyver replied. "You can handle a helicopter just as good as a plane."

"Oh, that would be wonderful!" Holly exclaimed. "Thank you, Jack!"

"Um, yeah, sure, no big deal."

"We'll halt the rescue operation for today so we can prepare the animals for the trip," Holly declared. "That means you guys can rest up until we have room for the others."

Jack and the other volunteers quickly disbanded and Mac knew now was his chance to do some investigating.

"Hey, Willis. Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure, I guess," he shrugged.

"Can you get me an oceanic map of the area as well as the latest federal and local rules and regulations for transporting crude oil through Prince William Sound along with shipping logs from the past few months?"

"C'mon Mac," Willis moaned. "You're letting the locals convince you this wasn't an accident?"

"They know it was an accident. I want to know why it happened."

"It was a storm, Mac."

"There's more to it. I can feel it. Will ya help me?"

"Everything you need is in the operations office. Follow me."

MacGyver spent the next several hours poring over the information he had requested. Every now and then, Willis would peer over his shoulder.

"What are you looking for?"

"I'll know it when I see it," Mac replied.

The sun was dipping toward the horizon and MacGyver was absently eating a sandwich Jack had brought him from the mess hall when suddenly all the data he'd been studying fell into place. He found the cause of the spill and the reason the townspeople were so guarded. He called to Willis who was doing his part to prepare for the chemical drop the next day.

"I got it!" Mac proclaimed.

Willis gazed at the open books and unfolded maps spread haphazardly on a large conference table. "Got what?"

"Everything! C'mere and I'll show you."

Willis pulled up a chair and sat down next to MacGyver who eagerly began his explanation. "The main thing that's been bothering me all along is why the tanker was riding low enough in the water to strike the reef in the first place. After the Exxon Valdez incident, limits were put on how much a tanker could carry to avoid such a collision."

"Go on," Willis prompted.

"These logs," Mac said, waving his hand in their direction. "At first I just found them confusing because the entries didn't match up, but that's because there are actually two sets of them. One gets submitted to government officials. The other one doesn't."

"Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

MacGyver nodded vigorously. "The new shipment limits started hurting big oil companies because they had to cut back on how much they exported as well as ship more often. Somehow they found a way to add to the cargo after it passed official clearance and then offload the same amount before the tanker reached its destination and was once again inspected for compliance to the new regulations. And the citizens of Tatitlek figured it out, but the oil companies are holding something over them to keep them from talking. It all makes sense!"

"You got all that by looking at some maps and shipping logs?" Willis asked skeptically.

"Yeah," Mac replied as if the answer was obvious.

"MacGyver, if you're right about this - and I'm not saying you are - we're talking about a huge operation employing or paying off a whole lot of corrupt individuals possibly as high up as the federal government!"

"I know. That's why we need to be extra careful about who we share these findings with. Is there anyone here you think we can trust?"

"The project manager seems to be on the up-and-up. He appears as concerned as we are. I'll try to get a better feel for him tomorrow."

"Sounds good," Mac confirmed. "In the meantime, this is just between us."

XXXXX

The following morning MacGyver awoke before dawn coughing and struggling to breathe. A putrid odor filled the trailer. He reached across the small space between beds and shook Jack, who was still asleep and snoring, by the shoulder.

"Huh? Wha?" his friend asked, dazed from sleep.

"We gotta get outta here. Now!" Mac instructed urgently.

"What kinda animal crawled in here and died?" Jack asked, wrinkling his nose.

"It's propane," MacGyver explained as he hurried toward the door, opening small windows along the way. Once outside, he ordered Jack to evacuate the neighboring units and call the fire department before heading to turn off the flow of gas, but when he got to the propane tanks, he found the handles missing. A deliberate act. Without a second thought he bobbed and weaved his way through the makeshift trailer park until he found the one he wanted.

"Willis!" he called, pounding on the front door. When it didn't open, he called his colleague's name again while at the same time forcing the door open. The smell of gas was strong so Mac pulled his t-shirt up over his mouth and nose as he quickly searched the trailer, only to find it empty. Once he had opened the windows he went to check the propane tank and found the handles missing as well. He was about to head back to where a small crowd began to gather when he heard someone call to him from the structure serving as headquarters.

"Mac! What's going on?!" It was Willis!

Quickly changing direction, MacGyver headed toward the scientist and told him about the gas leaks as together they strode to where emergency vehicles now surrounded both trailers.

"Are you the one who discovered the gas leak?" the fire chief asked, approaching MacGyver.

"Yes sir."

"It's lucky you woke up and took action when you did. A few more minutes and your trailer would've blown sky high."

Mac nodded, knowing full well the gravity of the situation.

"My men found the handles to the turn-off valves missing from the propane tanks. Any idea who might've done this, or why?"

The chief was certainly straightforward, a trait MacGyver admired. He shot Willis a glance before answering. "No sir. I wish I did."

"The police are on their way to interview everyone. Let them know if you think of something."

As the fire chief returned to where his crew was setting up fans to ventilate the housing units, Mac pulled Willis aside.

"Did you tell anyone about what we discovered last night?" he asked in a loud whisper.

"No! Did you?"

"Of course not! But somehow I have a feeling this is all connected since yours and mine were the only trailers sabotaged."

"Then someone must've been listening to us."

"Yeah, but who?" Mac murmured.

The next few hours passed quickly. Not knowing who to trust, MacGyver kept his interview with a local police officer short and direct. Others seemed to be doing the same. Was everyone paranoid? By noon, the last officials left allowing the focus to return to the oil spill and clean-up effort. Willis wandered off to join the team of environmental engineers in charge of the dispersant drop. Glancing up at the sky, Mac noticed the clouds beginning to give way to the sun and assumed the maneuver would be happening sooner rather than later. Across the way, Holly and Jack were loading cages containing various rescued animals into SUV's. Moments later, MacGyver hitched a ride with them as a parade of the black vehicles headed to the airport. Two choppers waited. One for Jack and Holly to transport the sea birds and animals to Valdez, the other being prepared for the chemical drop over the spill. Not wanting to take up precious room in Jack's helicopter Mac stayed behind with Willis.

"Here," Willis nudged him, shoving a pair of binoculars in his hand. "The pilot's doing his pre-flight now. As soon as he's done, it's go time. We can watch from here."

The two men leaned against one of the cars until the chopper took off. Looking through their binoculars, they watched as the pilot flew in small circles, surveying the situation, before hovering over one spot for several seconds.

"It looks like he's locked on," Willis observed.

Suddenly, gallons of liquid poured from the belly of the helicopter.

"Bull's eye!" Willis exclaimed.

"What happens now?" MacGyver asked, handing his binoculars back to his friend.

"We wait. But I think we acted fast enough to avoid any major damage. In the meantime, maybe we could do a little poking around to find whoever tried to asphyxiate us and blow up our trailers this morning."

"I've been thinking about that," Mac admitted. "I think it would be best if we take the evidence back to Phoenix and launch a thorough investigation through the proper channels. I have a feeling we're in over our heads on this one."

"I suppose you're right," Willis conceded with a frown.

MacGyver grinned. "Don't worry. I'm sure they're gonna need you to take an active role since you've witnessed everything first hand. You're input will be very valuable."

"You think?" the younger man asked, his face brightening.

"I know. Now how about we head back and get some dinner. I'm starving!"

The two lingered in the mess hall well after everyone else had eaten and left. Their trailers had been secured as crime scenes and they were waiting to be rehoused as some volunteers were already rotating back to the lower forty-eight. The locals seemed to have taken pity on them, serving them extra desserts with friendly smiles, but they seemed even less inclined to talk than before. MacGyver couldn't blame them. Even he made an effort to keep his thoughts to himself just in case the walls had ears.

Willis had just finished his third cup of coffee when the main door banged open and Jack strolled through, grinning widely.

"Hola compadres!" he greeted them.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" Mac asked with a smile of his own.

"You'll never guess what happened to me," the pilot proclaimed, taking a seat at the table.

"You asked Holly out and she said yes," MacGyver teased.

"Hmmm, that's not a bad idea, but no," Jack replied.

"Then why don't you go ahead and tell us?" Willis urged.

"I, my good men, have been offered a job."

"What kind of job?" Mac asked suspiciously.

"A real, honest-to-goodness one," Jack replied, his left eye completely twitch-less. "An airline charter service in Valdez is hirin' on extra pilots for the upcoming tourist season. They made me a real good offer and I figured what the hey! By the end of summer, I should have enough money to put a down payment on my own plane and I'll be back in business again!"

XXXXX

The following morning, the volunteer group from Phoenix was told that their services, while greatly appreciated, were no longer needed and they could head home. Upon arriving back in Los Angeles, MacGyver and Jack headed to The Wingman Bar to collect the remainder of their belongings. As Jack packed up for his temporary move to Alaska, he appeared happier than Mac had seen him since the wedding debacle in Las Vegas. After parting ways with his friend, MacGyver headed to the Phoenix Foundation where he met up with Willis and together they explained what they had discovered about the oil spill and violations of regulations to the ad hoc committee that had been quickly formed to delve further into the case.

"You go on ahead," Mac told Willis as they left the conference room after sharing all the information and evidence they had. "I'm gonna stop in and see Bannister and Nikki."

"Didn't you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"The assignment they were supposed to be working on got pushed back a couple weeks so they decided to take a belated honeymoon."

"Oh," Mac replied, surprised that Willis was privy to this information, but then again, a lot had changed since he resigned. "Well, when they get back tell 'em I'll be in touch, okay?"

"Sure thing. Are you heading back home?"

Willis had no way of knowing that 'home' was a relative term for MacGyver these days. "In a way. I decided to spend some time at Harry's cabin. Ya know, get outta my head for a few days."

"Well, enjoy yourself," the scientist told him.

"Thanks. I'll try," Mac responded.