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„Nice to see you too, MacGyver.” He lowered his arms and started to walk towards Mac.
“I am a little disappointed though. You so willingly took it upon you to make everyone happy.”
Mac was unsure where he was going with that.
“Hunting down the worlds largest diamond, make sure it‘ s safe, get it stolen to read the enclosed data with that tiny laser Riley has in her clutch and return it in time for the big auction – well, you forgot to count me in. But hey, you caught me, here it is, have it back.” He smirked and dropped the diamond on the ground at Mac´s feet.
“Yet you failed to see the trap behind it.” Murdoc raised his left fist to his mouth and upon opening it he blew a cloud of orange dust into Mac’s face. “Sweet dreams MacGyver!”
Mac stumbled back and fell into one of the bushes, coughing and wiping his eyes. Jack and Riley arrived by his side but in the meanwhile Murdoc disappeared into the dark leaving the diamond behind.
“Mac!” Jack helped him up. “Are you okay, man?”
“Yeah, just…” he coughed and tried to blink away his teary eyes. “He blew something in my face. It burns in my eyes but I´m fine otherwise.” He had to compose himself for a moment but then the three of them made their way out of the botanical garden. They quickly dropped off the diamond to the rightful owner and made their way to the car.
Shortly after ex-fil pulled up at the Phoenix’s driveway Jack got out first, opening the door for his partner on the other side. “Let´s get you to the infirmary”
“I’m FINE, Jack. It was just a distraction so he could get away!” Mac pushed himself past Jack to demonstrate it was true and made his way to the war room where Matty was expecting them already.
“Well, this went… almost smooth. I got word that the diamond wasn´t stolen after all and was returned to the niece- the auction postponed to another time, if at all. Well done team!” Matty was more than pleased and in an exceptionally good mood. “Even though Murdoc was there…what exactly happened?”
“I am not so sure myself”, Mac answered blinking behind reddened eyes. “He was cryptic as always and then just disappeared. Whatever was going on in his head, I don´t know. Maybe he was bored and needed the action.”
“Yeah, sounds like Murdoc…” Matty began, suspicion rising but she had to let that go for now.
“So, to top the good news,” she began and waved to something or someone behind the team “ May I introduce you to our newest member.” A young woman with clearly Native American features, not older than 27 maybe, appeared at the entrance making her way to Matty. Bright colourful tattoos on her arms and sternum showed through the sleeves of her mesh shirt, a silver piercing decorated her septum and blue strains danced between her otherwise almost black hair as she walked by. She wore black in black except for the white lab-coat with it‘ s sleeves rolled up above her elbows. As strange and gloomy as she looked, she seemed to radiate calm and friendly and a strange strong energy. The corners of her mouth twitch to form a quick crooked smile and waited patiently.
“This is my niece, Moon Wolfblood, Moon this is my best team.”
“Hey” she pulled a hand out of her pockets to give a quick wave to everyone in the room but her eyes got caught on Mac´s face- something was off. Jack caught himself almost waving back, remembering in the last moment, that he was a manly man and didn´t wave. Blushing, he quickly crossed his arms in front of his chest. No one noticed.
“Moon took over my brother‘ s clinic. Since it is a private clinic, she decided to “offer” it to Phoenix, which means, we have our own hospital now, in addition to our neat infirmary here and she will join YOU as well in the field from time to time to make sure to bring back your asses in one piece.” Matty was clearly excited about this news but Moon, sensed some tension from the team. She was family to Matty, but she was a stranger to them. She fixed her eyes on each of the team members for moment then cleared her throat:
“I started med school when I was 16 but took a sabbatical to become a trained combat medic. I finished med school 3 years ago when my father died- uhm, adoptive father that is.“ she felt the need to add. „But I wasn’t ready to take over just yet so I perfected any skills necessary for the field and became one of the top surgeons in the country...but something was missing. When I took over the clinic it was boring, to be honest and knowing what auntie Matty does, this felt right.”
The team was quiet for a moment taking in what was said.
“You are?…how old” Jack leaned forward in curiosity.
“A lot younger than you, gamps..” She smirked and lightened up the situation.
“Well, that’s settled. She is a perfect fit. Welcome to the Phoenix!” Riley exclaimed and took it upon her to pull her new teammate into a bear hug. Bozer joined in with a handshake.
“Yeah, cool, welcome to team MacGyver.”
A little more reluctant Jack also stepped up to give her a firm handshake- show her who was the boss. However, to his surprise, she had a quite firm one herself.
“Mac…?” Everyone turned to see why he was so quiet. He was standing in the middle of the room, staring straight ahead looking concentrated. His eyes were reddened and glassy. Beads of sweat started to form on his forehead.
“Mac?!”
“He is seizing!” Moon dashed forward just in time as Mac’s eyes rolled back and he sank down onto the floor convulsions rolling through his whole body. Jack closed in but couldn´t do much, so he tried to hold him and call out to him. “Mac, Buddy, what´s going on? Come on, I´m here. We´re here!” He placed his hand under Mac’s head so he wouldn´t hurt himself.
“Do not hold him down!” Moon warned him.
Moon moved fast and turned the May into a safe position on his side to keep his airways clear. “Did he have this before?”
Jack shook his head.
Then she reached into one of her pockets and pulled out an epi pen.
“What is that?”
“Keppra…” she saw Jack’s confusion and continued to explain “Out of the blue…huh...the epi pen delivers anti-seizure medicine directly into the muscle.” She removed the cap and stabbed Mac into the shoulder releasing the meds, then looked at her watch.
A minute later Mac stopped convulsing and lay limp with his head in Jacks lap. Moon checked his pulse and breathing, then relaxed next to them on the floor still holding Mac´s wrist.
“What just happened?” Matty was concerned as the rest of the team. “Jack, what exactly happened at the botanical garden?”
“Auntie… “Moon looked her in the eyes and pressured Matty to take care of Mac first before anything else. Matty pressed a button on her phone and a few minutes later to medics knocked at the glass of the war room already prepared with gurney. They let themselves in- Moon was on her feet again and moved in accord with them placing an oxygen mask on nose and mouth, checking eyes and placing several patches on Mac’s chest and temple to monitor his vitals and brain activity.
The turned the corner to the infirmary but Moon stopped them. „We´re taking him to my hospital. I´ll keep you posted” she called back to the shocked team as they wheeled Mac away.
“I´m coming with you!” Jack jumped up and wanted to follow but was stopped by Matty.
“First you tell me what happened, THEN you can follow.” Jack growled but couldn´t do any more than that. “He is in the best hands. She‘ ll take good care of our boy.” She assured him looking him deep in the eyes “Trust me.” He nodded unsure but at the same time he knew that Matty was right. If she trusted Moon so would he.
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“I’m FINE, Jack. It was just a distraction so he could get away!” Mac pushed himself past Jack to demonstrate it was true and made his way to the war room where Matty was expecting them already. But to be honest, the burn in his eyes killed him and he started to see little black spots and his vision blurred. His head hurt and he had to concentrate walking straight.
In the war room he positioned himself behind everyone else. Luckily Matty was pulling all attention to herself and a young woman entering shortly after. He tried his best to hide the wave of dizziness that washed over him when she looked him straight in the eyes.
He let out a relieved quiet sigh when she looked away again.
He tried to listen and pay attention but something in is brain blocked every information out and suddenly his chest contracted, his muscles hurt all over his body. He tried to roll with the pain but he couldn’t move at all. He was screaming in pain inside his head his mouth wouldn’t open- no sound came out. His eyes widened in horror before his vision blurred and blacked out.
“Mac?!”
“… seizing…!” His world tilted and he couldn´t focus anymore, couldn´t hear right, nor see, nor speak. His muscles hurt and twitched. He felt hands under and around him. Muffled sounds. What was going on?
“Buddy…. going on…. m here”
Suddenly he felt a jab in his shoulder- not too painful but enough to get him out of his stupor. Something changed and his muscles started to relax. But he was so very tired. He heard his team´s worried calls and Matty´s voice. But he couldn’t open his eyes and just lay limp. He felt a hand holding his wrist- it felt soft but firm. It wasn‘ t Jack‘ s or Riley‘s.
“Auntie…” No, it was that girl, she was holding his wrist.
Words were exchanged, but Mac couldn’t concentrate. He felt more and more hands on him. Something cool was placed on his face and a rush of fresh oxygen filled his lungs. It was so soothing and the pain was gone. Slowly he drifted into oblivion.
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Jack and Riley told what they saw upon arriving at the scene where Mac and Murdoc were standing in a clearing just the moment when Murdoc blew a cloud of dust or powder into macs face and disappeared right after. They forwarded the info to Moon and Jack left Phoenix’s to be with Mac in the hospital when he woke.
He drove fast, all kinds of scenarios running through his head, worry eating away his sanity. He was never far from Mac when he was in trouble. This time he didn‘ t get to him in time.
He felt guilty and also betrayed. Matty didn‘ t let him go with his partner. He always went with him, why not this time. Matty brought that girl in to separate them. No. She would never do such a thing. But yet here he was. Away from Mac who is going through who knows what, with a strange girl, practically alone, in a strange place… without Jack.
“Knock it off, Jack” he growled at himself as he closed in on the entrance to the clinic.
Apparently Moon left instructions to the staff and Jack was greeted by a young man leading him to Mac’s room. It was a big half round room with large windows. Mac’s bed was in the middle of the room, windows to each side behind him. Moon was already there. She moved around the bed adjusting and fidgeting with the lines leading to and from Mac. He was asleep and it was quiet safe the sound of the steady beeping of the heart monitor.
“How is he?” Jack walked up straight to Mac’s bed, taking the limp and clammy hand in his not bothering to address Dr. Wolfblood directly.
“He’s resting for now.” She was standing next to Jack now, feeling the tension, she just glanced over at him as she answered. He was not comfortable around her- she could sense it, so she didn´t force it and moved away pretending to check the chart at the foot end of the bed.
"We managed to salvage some samples of that powder from his hair and jacket. Toxicology ran the tests and came up with an antidote. Soon we should see its effects. It was a composition of several very toxic herbs and plants. He should be fine.”
Jack nodded absentmindedly concentrating on his boy only. Moon placed the chart back and left with one last glance at the men.
Mac looked pale but otherwise calm- “just sleeping” Jack said to himself. But there was more to it- always was. Mac was a genius and his mind was one of a kind. He knew that Murdoc was fascinated by him but his little attacks were getting annoying. He was playing. Testing the kid. Taunting. Testing Jack’s temper. One day he would get a hold of Murdoc and…
…he snapped out of his murder fantasy as his eyes detected movement. Mac was stirring, slightly moaning as he tried to shift.
“Hey Mac. You ‘wake?” he squeezed his shoulder reassuring that he was there.
“Mh... J’ck?” Mac’s voice was but a whisper. Still a strong enough sign that his boy was coming around.
“S'too’ bright” he mumbled still not opening his eyes, just rolling his head to the side.
Jack jumped into action and started to draw the heavy curtains shut. By the time the room was gloomy and he went back to MacGyver, who was fast asleep again. He smiled. The kid surely needed some rest after all that happened. Not just the incident with Murdoc but also trying to find his father, the clues, the stress, the doubts that kept him awake at night and the nightmares of him being left behind.
He decided to get a coffee and find a more or less comfortable chair to sit in with his boy until he woke again. He hurried down the hall to find a vending machine.
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He felt light and warmth walking through an autumn forest. The sun was shining through the leaves. He heard a familiar voice and followed the narrow path leading towards it. The voice, he recognized it. “Mh J’ck?” his own voice failed him but he kept walking toward Jack‘ s
Mac reached a clearing- the sun blinding him “S'too’ bright” It was so soothing warm and calm there. He walked out into the middle of the clearing where he lay down and let the warmth of the sun shine onto his face.
He woke with a start. It was cold and gloomy. The room he found himself in was unfamiliar and he was all alone. What happened? If he were in a hospital then Jack would be here at his side, or Bozer, or Riley but he was all alone. He was wearing scrubs and lay in a hospital bed- covered. He looked around carefully and tried to sit up. He felt an IV in his arm and flinched at the sting. IV… Murdoc…Had he kidnapped him again? He had to move quickly. Assess his surrounding and come up with an escape plan. He pulled the IV from his arm, uncovered himself and headed for the door. Quickly he looked around the corner, both ways to make sure no one was around- especially Murdoc- but which way to escape? At the end of the hall to the left he saw an elevator- the probability that it would lead out or at least close to an exit was high.
He felt weak and dizzy but he had to get out and find his team, find Jack- they must have been looking for him. Or so he hoped. Quickly he swapped to the other side and followed the corridor, steadying himself shoulder to wall until he reached the elevator. It may have been only a few meters but boy it felt like he just ran a marathon. He was so damn tired. It must have been what Murdoc pumped into him through the IV. Heat began to build in his body and he started to sweat. Doesn’t matter, get out, out, out! The elevator took too long… Mac´s head started to hurt and the dizziness grew stronger every minute making him nauseous. He rubbed his belly hoping the sensation would go away, squinted in search for the stairs- now even the artificial lights of the hospital hallways hurt. There. He pushed himself off the wall to gain a momentum- the staircase was just a few steps away- and let himself fall against the door hoping no one would be on the other side. Mac grasped the railing, panting, sweating. The initial pain in his stomach radiated into his back and chest. He had to swallow feeling the bile at the back of his throat. Squeezing his eyes shut he felt with his bare feet for the first step still clinging onto the railing.
With effort he made it down the stairs. Cautiously he peeked around the corner- the main entrance, or better his exit was just a few meters away. There was a man sitting at a desk- probably a guard of sorts. Mac was looking for a way to distract the man but thinking was very hard at the moment- he couldn‘ t conjure a coherent thought, his vision swam, his stomach revolted and he was getting weaker by the minute.
All he had to do was get out from wherever he was and find someone to contact Jack.
He found nothing to distract that guard, but got lucky. The man left and was out of view. He gathered all his strength and dashed for the exit.
He made it out and stumbled down the stairs into a canopy road ahead.
No one saw the young blond disappear into the gloomy twilight.
It was “an unusually cold and wet winter- especially today”, Jack though. The sunny evening quickly turned into a grim dark night darkening the sky very fast within an hour- a storm was brewing, wind picking up and Jack could hear thunder roll in the distance. Even the halls of this otherwise, strangely warm and welcoming hospital seemed to have dropped a few degrees in temperature. He took the plastic cup of steaming hot coffee from the machine and looked out of a huge window while he stirred absentmindedly as first drops started to leave spots on the window.
Rain.
He thought he saw a figure running outside but discarded it as someone just running to find shelter from the storm that was brewing outside.
What was it with that girl that bothered him so much? She was- as far as he could tell- sweet, kind, clever, very clever in fact, beautiful and taking good care of Mac. But HE should have been there…and what could he do? Nothing. It was Moon who could actually DO something. But could she care the way Jack did? She was a newbie, of course she couldn´t… Jack was THE caretaker of his boy genius, not that girl genius. Wait, what? Was that the problem? They were too close to each other in a genius way, was that it? A way that he would never be? He was jealous. He feared that Mac would find her company more appealing than his.
“I am frigging jealous” Jack said out loud. A nurse who happened to pass by looked at him suspiciously but said nothing and hurried along as Jack tried his most charming innocent smile.
Jack sighed and started back toward Mac´s room.
On the same corridor he saw the young doctor also walking towards the room- from the opposite side. They saw each other- looked at each other as if they were in a duel, ready to shoot one another, only… they were civilized and resented to frowning whilst still walking toward each other… and the room.
In front of the door they stopped, their eyes wide in disbelief. The door was open and the room empty.
“Where the hell is he?” Jack growled at her.
“YOU were supposed to watch over him!?”
“It is YOUR hospital, shouldn’t you take care of your patients?” fury was rising up in him. He didn’t wait for an answer but dashed past her towards the elevator. Moon pushed some buttons on her smartwatch calling her staff to be alert of the missing patient, then headed to look for Mac. Despite the anger at the unfair accusation in Jacks undertone and the fact that her patient, her supposed team member went missing in HER hospital, she stayed calm and composed. She couldn´t let her guard down.
She found some blood drops at the door to the stairs. She followed the trail down to the main hall where Carl, the receptionist was sitting at the front desk.
"Carl, have you seen any… “ but just as she started to ask, glancing outside the sliding doors into the storm and pouring rain, she made out a figure in the distance swaying into the canopy road. When a lightning flashed she narrowed her eyes to slits and tilted her head forward. “Mac!“
Right then Jack appeared behind her. „He‘ s out there!“ She called out while running outside not waiting for the senior soldier.
Then Jack saw him too. Mac stumbled through the rain, dragging his bare feet through the fallen leaves. At a white statue on the edge of the treeline he stopped for support. But even before Moon could reach his boy he faltered and fell on his knees then tilted face down into a puddle.
“Mac! No… “ Jack picked up pace and arrived just seconds after Moon.
She already turned him around.
“Mac, come on kid, what are you doing?” Jack scooped him up and placed himself underneath the young man- his head in his lap just like before.
Mac was convulsing again, clutching his stomach and retching occasionally.
"I thought you gave him an antidote!" Jack shouted over the loud rolling of the thunder and the rushing rain. Mac was pale as a sheet and soaking wet to the bones. He was cold and the shivers merged with his spasms and yet he was radiating heat. Moon placed her hand on his forehead “He has a fever. We have to get him back, quickly.” She manipulated her smartwatch and a few moments later 2 male nurses came running towards them with a gurney.
MacGyver calmed besides the shivers from the cold- Jack cradled him in his arms, slightly rocking him.“It’s okay now. You’re okay. Come on Mac, talk to me.“ He wiped some rain soaked stray hair from Mac’s face- he felt the heat of the fever, too. His body was trying to fight of whatever was making him sick.
Then nurses stopped right next to them- that´s when Mac opened his eyes. “Hey, there you are!” Jack was looking him straight at him, he thought Mac was too, but his glassy eyes seemed to stare right through him. He didn´t seem to recognize him. he didn´t react at all.
Then his eyes widened and he tried to pull away in panic „Murdoc...“
Jack‘s hand slipped but in the last moment, just before Mac could roll himself away from him, he tightened his grip around his arms and chest- firm but careful not to hurt him. “ No, let me go, let…. GO” The young agent struggled to free himself, screaming and kicking with no use. Jack was just so much stronger and he was weak in his current state. Mac managed to get hold of one of his arms and bit him, but Jack didn´t loosen his grip.“Argh…Mac stop it, dude! Wake up! It’s me, Jack!“
He fought with all the strength he had in him but it wasn‘ t much. When the two male nursed got involved he knew it was over. But Jack taught him to never give up so kept on squirming and fighting them.
They lifted him from the ground onto the gurney. While Jack and one of the nurses held him down the second one moved quickly to fasten soft restraints around his ankles and wrists, securing them to the gurney.
„Can‘t you give him something?“ Jack blinked through the heavy rain expecting his question to be understood as an order.
„No! Not as long as we don‘ t know what‘s causing this? We missed something!“ Moon admitted then all four of them rushed Mac back inside the hospital building and into the emergency room.
They rolled him into one of the bays. Jack stayed behind, knowing he‘ d probably be sent out anyway. But just before they drew the curtain Moon called him in.
„I need your help here!“
He jumped into action, a flood of adrenaline rushing through his body. He couldn‘ t believe it just yet but he was there, he was allowed to help.
They started to cut away the wet clothes making sure not to accidentally cut Mac, too while he was constantly moving, straining against the restraints and squirming on the bed.
„Hold his arm.“ Moon ordered as she unwrapped a sterile syringe and some vials.
Jack did as asked. „What are you doing?“
„I need to draw some more blood to test it again. Ever heard of synergistic drugs? Drugs that interact with each other, enhance or weaken the effects. I must have missed something. And I am reluctant to sedate him not knowing what the sedative might interact with.“ Using the opportunity she also placed an IV with fluids to help with the fever. He still radiated heat and the thermometer showed a wreaking 40 degrees Celsius.
Jack nodded but didn‘ t quite grasp the severity of this so called synergistic reaction.
Moon drew three vials and ordered one of the nurses to get it to toxicology immediately. „Jack, do you remember which plant he fell into in the botanical garden?“
She continued to settle Mac with the help of another young nurse and covered him with a thin blanket. How could she stay so calm and composed? Jack snapped out of his own shock and thought for a moment. „It, uhm… was a sort of a shrub really with, uhm, rich fan like leaves , long stems and a … and had red fuzzy balls. What are you thinking?“
„Did it have thorns?“
„Uh...might, I , I don't know. I can...“ but Moon was already tapping something in her ear and her smartwatch lit up showing Riley‘s contact. „Can you locate and identify the plant Mac fell into when he… okay, send me the picture asap.“ a moment later she added „It‘s not over yet. Hurry up please!“
Mac was getting weaker giving in to the exhaustion but still was trying his restraints. He mumbled incoherently about the time Murdoc kidnapped and drugged him. Apparently he thought that would be the case right now again. He didn‘t recognize Jack and especially not Moon and gave way to his hallucinations. His eyelids closed and opened, his head tilted to the side and at some point all he could do was to roll it form side to side until he finally fell asleep. Quickly she placed the heart monitor patches on his chest and clipped an oximeter onto his left middle finger.
Moon stepped closer and lifted the blanked here and there looking for something. She touched and lifted his arms, checked at the back of his head, his neck, ran her hand along his chest and bare legs but couldn‘ t find any recent scratch or injury. She took in the countless scars from previous missions, though.
„Help me?“ she prompted Jack to bring him into a sitting position so she could examine his back. There it was. A faint scratch that she didn‘t notice before, now turned into an angry red snake across his upper back. „There… hold him.“ She took a swab from the nearby cabinet and ran the cotton end along the scratch. The skin around the edges was hot and swollen, the infection creeping further into his body by the second. She placed the swab into another vial and handed it to the nurse.
They eased Mac back onto the bed. At last she added a nasal canula to the lines and wires before she grabbed Jack by the arm and lead him out of the room, quietly sliding the door shut behind them.
Jack stood by the glass and looked inside to his sick partner. Mac was asleep but it was a restless one still moving about from time to time. The fever was wearing him out from inside and there was nothing Jack could do. Nothing he could do right either. He couldn‘ t even remember that damn plant Mac fell into. It might save his life.
„Doctor.“ A man in a lab coat walked up to them an handed Moon a tablet. „The results.“, he nodded and walked away.
The girl genius studied the results of Mac‘s blood works for a moment. The same results ad before. „That...doesn‘t make any sense“ she sighed. But also, this just confirmed her theory. „The results are exactly the same, but it has been hours since the last test. The numbers should be lower by now. There must be something else.“
Her smartwatch buzzed- it was a photo of the plant sent by Riley. Moon‘ s eyes widened in horror.
„Shoot!“
Like on cue the alarms went off in Mac‘ s room. „Code blue!“ She jumped into action followed by several nurses and equipment leaving Jack behind the glass front. This time she didn‘ t call him in. He didn‘t understand what was happening. All he saw was Moon working away on Mac, shouting orders, trying to get him back to life.
„O2 levels dropping one of the nurses called out. Liquid in his lungs!“
Jack‘s eyes teared up. He screamed at them from the other side of the glass as he watched Moon loosen the restraint on his left wrist. She placed it above the sick agent‘s head and cut a whole into Mac‘s side inserting a plastic tube right after. Liquid ran down the tube and onto the floor.
„Lungs are free, but he‘ s still not not breathing on his own!“
Moon moved quickly and in a blink of an eye she was standing by Mac‘s head, tilting his chin up. A nurse handed her the needed equipment and in a matter of seconds she intubated him and secured the tube with a strap.
His vitals stabilized for a few seconds but it wasn‘ t over just yet.
„He‘ s seizing!“ a nurse shrieked.
„Rrrahhaa!“ the yiung doctor threw the tablet across the room. Normally Moon would know which and how much of a medication she would administer, but this time she lost controll. She closed her eyes and went through the test results in her mind, step by step, bresthing despearte anger away as much as she could. She heard Jack outside hitting the glass and shouting at her „Do something! Don‘t just stand there, DO SOMETHING!“
She tried to concentrate tried to think what to do. The alarms were shrieking, the nurses calling out to her asking what to do and Jack shouting at her.
„Shut up!“ she screamed at the top of her lungs. She thought about all the substances they found in his system, their effects on him and how they interacted. Then he added newest discovery- the one thing they all missed- ricin. He probably inhaled it and got it into his system via the scratch on his back as well. She tried to estimate the amount of the poison and how it might interact with the other toxins.
„That‘s it.“ She opened her eyes, radiating confidence from the epiphany that dawned on her. She ran to the cabinet and took three different bottles. From each of them she drew a different amount into a syringe and hurried back to Mac. She pushed the liquid into the IV and waited.
Seconds passed by like hours.
„He‘ s stabilizing.“ the nurse confirmed.
They dared to breathe again and exhaustion replaced adrenaline.
„Good.“ Moon wiped the sweat away. „Good“ she whispered again.
„He‘s going to be okay now. Prepare a drip...“ She directed the nurses to mix a cocktail of several different medications. She had them write down which ones and how much of each. „And hang a bag of broadband antibiotics for the scratch, 400ml every 6 hours for the next 3 days. Please.“
She sighed and turned away, out of the room. She figured it out. He would live.
„What the hell was that about?“ Jack stopped her gripping her arm. „You almost let him die in there!“ Fury burned in him like a wildfire and anything she said would just fuel it more and more.
But so was she.
„No, I actually saved him.“ she tried to defend herself.
„You just stood there, what… what did you do? Take a nap? All too much for you little girl?“
„Excuse me? What did YOU do except stand there and cry, old man?!
Jack was about to explode.
„Hey, wow, children, stop it, cut it out!“ Matty was lead to the emergency room to find them fighting. „That is very unprofessional, what is going on? How is MacGyver?“
„Your genius niece almost KILLED him!“
„YOU should have kept him safe in the first place! You couldn‘ t even help with the easiest of questions. Where were you? Cleaning your dentures?
„You little...“ Jack was about to engage in a brawl with Moon and she was all in for it.
„Stop it, now, the both of you. What is wrong with you?“ Matty positioned herself between the two stubborn rams and pushed them apart. She was small, but she had a personality that demanded obedience.
„Jack, go, cool down.“ she ordered him away.
„Moon, get a tea.“ They both exchanged blazing fiery looks before stomping away in opposite directions. „Yessss ma'am.
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Jack sat by Mac‘s bedside. He listened to the rhythmical whooshing of the ventilator that breathed for his partner and watched MacGyver‘s chest rise and fall in unison. It‘s been three days since they intubated him. The toxins and poisons slowly left or were absorbed but the doctors decided to keep him under as long as the chest tube was in.
„I‘m sorry. I‘m sorry I wasn‘t there to protect you. I didn‘t...think… he would get that close to...you. I don‘t know what I‘d do if…“ he sniffled and wiped his tears away.
„I was so worried. I was so afraid and I could do nothing. Hell I couldn‘t even remember that damn plant. And that made me so angry….so angry at myself.“ he paused as realization dawned on him:
„You know, Moon, she...she did everything she could. She literally lingered over you until she found out what made you sick.“, he laughed out. „and you know what I did?“ Jack cupped his face in embarrassment. „I did nothing. I shouted at her. I blamed HER for...“
The heart monitor skipped a beat and the alarms on the ventilator went off. Jack looked up and saw the boy‘s eyes flutter. He struggled to wake up, struggled against the tube in his throat. Mac‘s hand twitched against the restraints as he tried to reach out for help.
Jack placed his hand on his chest. „Hey Mac, easy there, kid, easy. You´re okay. I‘m here, just relax, hoss. You‘re okay.“ He look around for the call button but even before he could press it a doctor walked in accompanied by a nurse who started fuzzing over his friend right away.
„It‘ s too soon yet.“ the doctor mumbled checking the patient‘ s vitals. „Give him 36milligrams M.“ The nurse pulled up a syringe and injected it‘ s content into the IV. Mac stopped struggling and was back asleep a second later.
„Wait, where is Doctor Wolfblood?“
„She‘ll be in later to remove the chest tube“ the doctor left while the nurse checked the patient one more time. She arranged Mac‘s gown and covered him, then left as well. Jack was about to yell out but changed his mind. He acted out enough for a while three days ago.
He settled back into his chair beside Mac‘ s bed and stared into the empty space for a while.
She‘d come in later to remove the chest tube. He stared at it for a while and realized what that meant. They would take Mac off the sedatives and let him wake up on his own terms. „You‘re gonna be okay, man.“
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Jack was ordered to go home. Matty promised to stay with Mac while he took a shower, slept and ate something.
„Care to tell me now what was going on the other day with you and Jack?“
Moon rolled her eyes and sighed She‘ d just finished to stitch up Mac‘ s side after removing the tube and placed a band aid on the incision site.
„It was… nothing, aunt Matty. I was stressed and Jack just… he was stressed and worried.“ she threw the rubber gloves into the bin and covered Mac. „We took it out on one another. It was nothing.“
Mhm, Matilda Webber knew her niece better than that. „Moon, why didn‘t you tell me? What did you do to... calm down?“ Her niece bit her lips but she knew she couldn‘t hide her feelings from her. To the outside she was a shy or sometimes cold an calculated smart-ass but Matty, she was one of the few people who really knew who she was inside.
„I wrecked the supply room... and an armchair... and“ She looked at her feet like they were the most interesting thing she‘ s seen in a while "I might need a new bathroom door. It seems the chair collided with it...
„Oh sweety. Matty took her hand „You know why you fought with Jack? Because you are both strong, caring, and definitely stubborn people who‘ d do anything for their family.“
Moon opened her mouth to argue when the alarms on the ventilator went of yet again. Mac was still sedated but the machine was set to sound an alarm once his lungs were able to breathe on their own.
„Doctor Wolfblood,“ a nurse entered to check if she could be of any help.
„It‘ s alright May, I got this.“ she dismissed her as she put on another set of gloves and prepared to free Mac from intubation.
„Aunt Matty, you might want to step out for a moment.“
„Sure sweety. You take good care of out boy.“ but before she left the room Matty turned back around:
„You know, it‘ s nothing wrong about asking for help and support once in a while. And… taking a nap.“
She closed the door behind her.
Moon tilted Mac‘s head and loosened the straps holding the tube in place. She removed the hose while holding his head in place with one hand, then gently pulled the tube out. A faint hiss confirmed that Mac was breathing on his own.
To be sure she listened to his breathing through her stethoscope and relief washing over her when she heard a strong and steady breathing.
„Well done, Mac, well done.“ she sighed the snapped the gloves off her hands. „I wish I had someone like Jack watching over me.“
She dimmed the lights, kicked off her sneakers and settled into the chaise-lounge at the back end of the room. Moon‘ s thoughts lingered for a moment on the tight bond between Jack and Mac but in the end she let go. She was exhausted and after four days, now that Mac was finally out of the woods, she allowed herself to get a shut eye.
She heard that Jack was back before she saw him. He was in the room, talking to Mac.
„Hey, hi, man. You awake? You really scared the living shit out of me, dude.“
Mac was awake? That soon?
„‘m okay.“ Mac‘ s answers were weak, hoarse even, but he was lucid enough to answer.
„What… happened?“ He looked down on himself confused about the the restraints still on.
Jack shifted in his seat. „Uh...sorry ‘bout that.“ The chair was pushed and she heard Jack move around the bed and removed the restraints. „ We needed to be sure you wouldn‘ t run away or harm yourself.“ He didn‘t dare look onto his eyes, though. „What‘s the last thing you remember,hoss?“
„I...“, he croaked. Jack moved again. Moon heard the cracking of a plastic cup and a satisfied sigh shortly after. „Murdoc… and uh… the war room. Matty...“ he thought hard but that was all he could recall.
„Murdoc, yes, he pulled quite the number on you this time.“ Jack whispered. „But the whole thing was worse than he intended it to be.“ He told him everything from the moment in the war room up until that very moment.
Mac groaned. He was still in some pain not only from the substances he inhaled but also the inflammation of his scratch on his back, as well as the site where the chest tube was and his allover sore muscles.
As he shifted he must have spotted her. „Moon…?“
He remembered her name?
„Yeah, that‘s her. She saved your life. Not just once. She figured it all out.“ he paused. „She was amazing. „I did her wrong, Mac and I don‘t know how to make amends...“ Mac stayed quiet and Moon felt their both eyes linger on her. After a few seconds Mac moved in his bed. He winced at the pull of multiple IVs and catheter.
„What is it hoss, what can I do?“ Jack‘ s head jerked up and he turned all his focus back on his friend again.
„It‘ s nothing. Just sore." He tired to sit up but Jack gently pushed him back down onto the pillow.
„Whoa there, easy, hold your horses. I…“ he looked over at Moon like considering waking her up but decided against it. She needed some rest, too. „I go get someone. You stay put.“
It was quiet in the room again.
„You know… he‘ s a … a good guy.“ Speaking was still heard and he concentrated on taking one breath at a time. „He gets … stressed out, when he… feels helpless.“ He sucked in some air between clenched teeth as another wave of pain rolled through his body.
Moon got up, stretched and walked over to him, barefoot. Mac just blinked at her sleepily.
„How‘ d you know I was awake?“ but she didn‘ t wait for the answer. „You‘re in pain?“ she placed a hand on his shoulder.
Jack came back with a nurse. When she spotted Dr. Wolfblood she nodded and turned right on her heel.
„Hey.“ Jack shoved his hands into his jeans pockets, then pulled them out, scratched his head and crossed them in front of his chest. He really didn‘ t know what to do with them.
„Hey.“ Moon smiled. Now she understood what Mac meant. He was just a big helpless baby. „I´ll give you some painkillers to take of the edge.“ She pulled up another syringe but instead of injecting it into the IV line she injected it straight into the muscle. A soft snore gave away that Mac fell asleep again shortly after.
„Call me when he wakes up again. I‘ ll leave you two now.“ She left without her shoes.
„Moon, wait.“ Jack came running after her with her sneakers in his hands. „You forgot these.“
„Thank you.“ She took them but didn‘ t bother to put them on.
„You‘re weird.“ Jack said without thinking. „Sorry, uhm...“ Moon wasn‘t sure for whom it was more embarrassing- for her or him?
„...listen, I… am… so…“ she waited, head tilted in anticipation. „Hungry“ he blurted out. „I am so hungry, yes, hungry. Care for some burgers? Today, or… another time, if you are busy now?“
Moon giggled but said nothing. She just turned to leave. „Call me...“ she called out to him.
Jack watched her walk around the hallway until she turned around the corner and disappeared. But not for good. She was part of the Phoenix team now. He recalled having a rough start with Mac too before they became like brothers and joined forces.
This must be the same.
He went back into the room, sat down in his usual spot by Mac‘ s bed and waited for the young agent to get better. She‘ d make sure of it, he was certain. She was one of the many synergistic parts in this team that just would enhance the allover performance. He saw that now.
„We‘ ll be okay, man, we'll be okay.“