As soon as Jack let go of her Riley was running towards the area of destruction. The bomb had detonated amid an array of abandoned buildings and car wracks. The dry ground infiltrated the air around her and the dust irritated her eyes.

Riley stopped amid the chaos the bomb had left behind. Her eyes scanning the area, frantically searching for signs of human life. One life in particular. "Mac!", Riley shouted.

Only moments before they had talked to Mac over the radio. The young genius had gone back to the site in order to check out the criminal's car. Unrelentlessly searching for more clues to solve the case. He must have been right there when the bomb went off.

"Maybe he went somewhere to hide", Jack called. "You go search over there and I'll take this area."

Riley nodded and jogged around an abandoned container. Jack was probably right. Mac always made it out alive. He had made it this time too. He had to.

"Mac?" Pieces of debris were strewn across the area. The impact had even reached this far out. "Come on, Mac. Where are you?", Riley muttered under her breath.

She stopped and turned, circling around herself. Even Mac wouldn't have made it that far. She was just about to turn around and check in with Jack as a speck of blue caught her attention amidst the settling dust.

Riley instantly recognized the light blue shirt Mac had been wearing today. She sprinted towards him and dropped on her knees next to the lifeless body. "God, Mac." Her hands were hovering over his body. He was laying on his stomach, eyes closed. Dust matted his usually blonde hair.

She knew better than to try and move him. Carefully she placed two fingers on his neck. His pulse was weak but steady. She leaned down towards his face. As she felt the faint air flow against her skin she sighed in relief.

Her hand flew to her earpiece. "Jack, I found him. We are behind the old containers. He is unconscious and needs medical attention."

"I'll be there in a second, Riley."

She turned her attention back towards her loveless friend. Carefully she looked him over, scanning his body for any signs of broken bones or shrapnel.

Riley heard the fast footsteps and turned around to see Jack sprinting towards her, medical kit in one hand. Seconds later he went down next to her.

"His pulse is steady and he is breathing. I need your help to turn him on his back."

Jack nodded. "Support his neck. On three." Together they turned the unconscious agent on his back. Jack drew in a sharp breath. The right side of Mac's face was covered in blood. It had spilled from a deep gash on his forehead.

Carefully Jack wiped aside a few strands of hair to get a better look. "He'll need stitches, but it's not too deep." Jack leaned close to Mac and listened to his breathing. Seemingly satisfied he nodded to himself before gently patting down Mac's body. "It doesn't seem like anything is broken."

Riley had opened the medkit and wetted a few bandages. Now she started to wipe the mixture of dust and blood from Mac's face. Absently she recognized Jack calling for a medical team. Mattie's concerned voice crackled over the intercom asking for the status of her agent.

Gently she held Mac's head in place while she dabbed at the dried up blood. Suddenly Mac's brows twitched. A low moan escaped his lips. "Jack, I think he's waking up."

The older agent leaned in closer as Mac's eyelids fluttered. After another breathless moment a pair of blue eyes looked up at them.

"Mac? Buddy?"

Mac blinked, unfocused eyes roaming over their faces. „Jack?", he whispered.

He drew in a shaky breath and started coughing. Helplessly Jack and Riley watched as their friend curled in on his side, body trembling, one arm wrapped protectively around his ribcage.

His face had gained an ashen color as he stopped, which made the blood on the side of his head stand out prominently.

„It's ok. Just take it easy, buddy. Breathe", Jack said and gently rubbed circles on the young agent's back.

After a few strained moments Mac seemed to relax, his posture losing the protective rigidness. He let his head drop to the ground and carefully opened his eyes.

„My ears… ringing", Mac mumbled.

„Yeah, I know. But we are gonna take care of you." Jack said and held his thumbs up. Then he gave Riley a look. „Help me to position him flat on the ground."

Together they untangled Mac's limbs and managed to guide him back. For a moment the young agent struggled, seemingly confused by the hands prodding at him, before complying and going numb under his friend's grip.

Riley went on to clean his head wound. As Jack went to lift his shirt to inspect his ribs, Mac shoved the prodding hands away in protest.

„Don't… ‚m fine", Mac protested weakly.

Jack visibly shook his head and wagged his finger in front of Mac's eyes. „You are not fine! Now let me take a look at this."

No longer concealed by any fabric Riley could make out fresh bruising covering his abdomen. She caught Jack's concerned gaze. "Well, this certainly doesn't look fine."

The older agent carefully assessed the injuries. Mac drew in a sharp breath, balled his hands into fists and pushed back against the ground in pain.

"You… done?," he gasped, as Jack took his hands off him.

"Hey, you decided to come back here and get blown up. Now don't blame me."

The growing noise of sirens announced the arrival of the EMTs. A few moments later both Jack and Riley stood next to their friend, watching as the medics treated Mac. With efficient movements they put on a neck brace and slipped an oxygen face across his face.

"One of you can join us. So who wants to do the hand-holding."

Jack smirked at her. "You know I would love to do that, but Mac never seems to appreciate it."

"That's shocking," Riley said. For the first time since the bomb went off, she felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"You tell him to behave himself", Jack called across his shoulder as he headed for his car.

Riley chuckled and slipped into the ambulance. The medic ushered her into the seat across from him, located closely to Mac's head. Mac turned towards her.

„How do you feel, Mac?", Riley asked as she slipped into the seat next to him. „and don't you dare say you're fine."

Mac removed the mask with one hand and gave her a shaky smile.

"Well, all my pieces are accounted for and in the right place. You have to admit that's not a bad ratio."