As McG supported Jaz to the bathroom, the rest of the team exchanged worried glances. The sound of retching echoed from behind the closed door, followed by an ominous thud.
"Jaz?" McG's voice called out, alarm evident. "Jaz, answer me!"
When no response came, McG threw open the bathroom door. The scene that greeted him was horrifying.
Jaz lay crumpled on the cold tile floor, her body convulsing violently. Bright red blood stained her lips and the front of her shirt. McG was at her side in an instant, his training kicking in despite the terror gripping his heart.
"Jaz! Jaz, can you hear me?" McG called out, carefully turning her onto her side. "Damn it, Jazzy, stay with me!"
He looked up to see the team crowding the doorway, their faces pale with shock. "She's seizing! Top, Amir, I need you in here now!"
As they rushed to help, McG barked out orders. "Amir, support her head. Top, help me keep her on her side. Preach, I need my med kit and a timer. Now!"
McG's hands moved swiftly, checking Jaz's airway and positioning her to prevent choking. "Come on, Jazzy," he murmured, his voice breaking slightly. "Fight it, girl. You're stronger than this."
The seconds ticked by agonizingly slow. Two minutes... three... four...
"McG," Amir said urgently, "shouldn't we do something?"
McG shook his head, his eyes never leaving Jaz. "Not yet. Giving her meds too early could make it worse. We have to wait it out."
Finally, as the seizure hit the four-minute mark, Preach returned with the med kit. McG wasted no time, drawing up a dose of Ativan.
"Alright, Jazzy," he said softly, inserting the syringe into her IV port. "This is going to help. Just hang in there for me."
As he pushed the medication, McG kept his eyes fixed on Jaz's face, watching for any change. Gradually, her convulsions began to subside. Her body went limp, her breathing ragged.
"That's it, Jaz," McG encouraged, relief evident in his voice. "You're doing great. Just relax now."
He looked up at the team. "Let's get her back to bed. Carefully now."
They gently lifted Jaz, carrying her back to the bedroom. As they settled her onto the bed, McG noticed tears streaming down her face. Whether from pain, fear, or a combination of both, he couldn't be sure.
"Hey, hey," he said softly, leaning in close. "It's okay, Jazzy. You're safe now."
McG tenderly brushed her hair back from her forehead, his touch gentle. He pressed a soft kiss to her brow, his voice barely a whisper. "I've got you, Jaz. I'm not going anywhere."
Jaz's eyes fluttered open, filled with fear and confusion. "McG?..I'm scared" she croaked, her voice raw.
"I'm right here," he assured her, taking her hand in his. "You had a pretty bad seizure, but you're okay now. The medication should help you rest."
Jaz's grip on his hand tightened. "Don't... don't leave," she managed to say, her words slurred from exhaustion and medication.
McG's eyes softened. "Wild horses couldn't drag me away, Jazzy. You just focus on resting, okay? I'll be right here when you wake up."
As Jaz's eyes drifted closed again, McG stood up, his posture rigid with tension he reached for a damp cloth to wipe the blood off her lips and face. As he looked at the team, his expression a mix of fear and determination. "We need answers, and we need them fast."
While McG worked on Jaz, the rest of the team looked around, suddenly realizing someone was missing.
"Where's Mia?" Top asked, his voice tight with concern. McG's eyes narrowed. "She was here just a minute ago..."
Unbeknownst to the team, Mia had slipped away in the chaos. In a secluded corner of the building, she pulled out a burner phone and dialed a number.
"It's me," she said quietly. "The product works even better than we thought. Jaz is sicker than before, probably on death's door. And the team? They're falling apart. They don't trust Top anymore." She paused, listening. "Yes, it's virtually undetectable. Builds up in the system over time, just like we designed. No injection needed - skin contact is enough." Another pause. "Believe me, it'll fetch a fortune on the black market. And the best part? No one knows about it yet. There's no antidote."
Back in the apartment, McG turned to Top, his face contorted with anger.
"This is on you!" he exploded. "How can you not see what Mia's been doing? She's been playing you, playing all of us!"
Top's face hardened. "Watch yourself, McGuire. You're out of line."
The tension in the room, already high, suddenly skyrocketed. McG, his patience finally snapping, stepped forward, using his full height to tower over Top. His voice was low and dangerous as he got right in Top's face.
"Or what?" McG growled, his eyes blazing. "In matters of medical, I outrank you. I have no issue calling Patricia for backup on that."
The two men stood toe to toe, the air crackling with tension. Top's jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists at his sides. For a moment, it seemed like the confrontation might turn physical.
Suddenly, a rapid beeping from the medical equipment cut through the tension. Amir's head snapped towards Jaz, his eyes widening as he saw her heart rate accelerating on the monitor.
"McG!" Amir called out urgently. "Jaz's heart rate is spiking!"
The effect was immediate. McG broke away from Top, all his attention refocusing on Jaz. As he rushed to her side, Amir stepped between him and Top.
"McG, Amir said quietly but firmly, "your energy is best used focusing on Jaz right now. Let Patricia handle Top."
McG nodded tersely, already checking Jaz's vitals. "You're right," he muttered. "Jaz needs me more than Top needs a reality check."
Preach, who had been silent throughout the exchange, placed a hand on Top's shoulder. "Come on, brother," he said gently. "Let's step outside for a moment. Clear our heads."
As Preach led a still-fuming Top out of the room, Amir turned to McG. "What do you need?"
McG's voice was strained. "I need answers..before it's too late. We can't lose her..I can't lose her. I don't know how much more she can take"
Amir nodded, moving to the comms equipment. As he began to speak with Noah, McG leaned over Jaz, his voice softening.
"Easy, Jazzy," he murmured, adjusting her IV. "I'm right here. We're going to figure this out, I promise."
Top returned storming back in the apartment with Preach on his heels. "Alright, someone want to tell me what the hell is going on? Since when does my team start throwing around wild accusations?"
Amir whirled around, his eyes flashing. "Since when do you stop listening to the opinions of your team? The very opinions you've trained us to value and respect?"
Top's face hardened. "Amir. You're dangerously close to insubordination."
"Insubordination?" Amir scoffed. "Is that what you call it when we're trying to save Jaz's life? When we're trying to figure out why our CO has been acting like a completely different person?"
McG, who had been silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke up. "Top, you have to admit, something's not right here. The way you've been acting, the way you've been defending Mia... it's not you."
Top's anger seemed to deflate slightly, replaced by confusion. "I... I don't know what you're talking about. Mia's been nothing but helpful."
"Has she?" Amir pressed. "Then where is she now, when Jaz is fighting for her life? Why was she lurking outside the apartment right before Jaz collapsed the first time? "Amir, who had been pacing, suddenly stopped. "Wait," he said, his mind racing. "Patricia said she thought Jaz had come into contact with something when we were scouting near the wharf. And now Hannah's tox screens are abnormal, and had a worse rash than Jaz." His eyes widened. "The only thing that changed today was Jaz took a shower."
McG snapped his fingers. "No, not just the shower. Jaz started using that scrub again. The one Mia gifted her and Hannah when we first got here."
Top frowned. "McG, when was the last time Jaz used it before today?"
Amir answered, "About three days ago. She ran out right before I found her unconscious on the floor."
Preach and Top exchanged looks. "So," Preach said slowly, "three days ago she ran out. She got very sick, but without using it, she slowly began getting better. She uses it again today, and we're back to square one."
The tension in the room was palpable as the implications sank in. Noah's voice came through on the comms, relaying a message from Patricia. "Preach, we need you to find that scrub and start drug testing it. Send slide samples back to headquarters for analysis over a secure link."
As Preach moved into the bathroom to recover the scrub, Amir turned to Top, his frustration boiling over. "How can you not see the connection between Mia and what's been happening? She's a master manipulator, and I think she's trying to kill Jaz and tear the team apart!"
Before Top could respond, Noah's voice crackled over the comms. "Guys, we need to check something. Does Top have any unusual rashes on his body?"
The team exchanged glances. McG stepped forward. "Top, I need to examine you. Strip."
For a moment, it looked like Top might refuse. But then, slowly, he began to remove his shirt. As he turned, McG spotted an angry red patch on the small of his back.
"Son of a bitch," McG breathed. He activated his comm. "Patricia, we've got something. There's a rash on Top's back, similar to Jaz's."
As they relayed the information, McG's mind raced. "What if this drug affects everyone's nervous system differently based on the amount they're given and their individual chemistry? It could explain the physical symptoms in Jaz and Hannah, and..." he trailed off, looking at Top.
"And the personality changes in Top," Preach finished quietly.
The gravity of the situation settled over the room like a heavy blanket. They were dealing with something far more dangerous and insidious than they had initially thought – a weapon that could incapacitate not just physically, but mentally as well.
As the team grappled with this realization, Jaz stirred fitfully in her sleep, a silent reminder of the high stakes they were facing. The clock was ticking, and they needed to find answers – and an antidote – before it was too late.
Top sank into a chair, his head in his hands. "I... I don't understand. What's happening to me?"
Amir's expression softened slightly. "That's what we're trying to figure out, Top. We're not your enemies here. We're your team."
Preach nodded, placing a hand on Top's shoulder. "We'll get through this, brother. Together."
As the team rallied around their leader, McG turned back to Jaz, adjusting her IV. His voice was barely a whisper as he spoke to her unconscious form. "Hang in there, Jazzy. We're not giving up on you. Not now, not ever."
Outside the apartment, hidden in the shadows, Mia watched the windows intently. A small smile played on her lips as she dialed a number on her burner phone. "Phase one is complete," she said quietly. "Time to move to phase two."