Chapter Text
„Since when?“, Jack asked while he pulled Mac back up on his feet. The young agent pushed through the pain in his abdomen as he fought to stand back up.
„Uh, since… Pizza Palace I think.“, came a reluctant answer.
Jack suppressed the urge to drop Mac right there and then. The kid was hurting enough without being dropped back on the ground.
„Are you kidding me? Dude, that was three days ago! You knew three days ago that you were sick and still went on this mission?“
„I...didn‘t know.” He took small steps and quick but shallow breaths after each one.
“I thought... it was just ...too much… pizza.“
Mac‘s defense was weak as were his knees. He clutched his abdomen trying to breath through the sharp pain running through his body. His face was pale as a sheet and sweat beads formed on his forehead.
„Okay, that was day one; What about the other two days?“ Jack supported Macs weight as much as he could while also dragging him through a lush forest canopy.
„I… thought… maybe the pizza was bad? I thought it … would pass.“
Their hurried steps collided with errant roots and pesky rocks intensifying the pain minute by minute. Soon he wouldn’t be able to hold himself up anymore. The sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick foliage, casting peculiar shadows that danced mischievously upon their path and made their every step even more challenging. Mac’s fewer crept higher and higher, his vision blurring, his eyes burning, yet he shivered underneath Jack’s strong arms.
„It‘s getting dark and it smells like it‘s going to rain soon...“ Jack mumbled more to himself.
If they didn‘t find shelter soon, Mac might not make it. This time there was no gunshot-wound, there was no stabbing, no actually visible wound he could treat. This time he had absolutely no control over Mac‘s well being.
He did his best for his sick partner but wasn’t sure what exactly that was besides carrying him around. Even though he wanted to strangle Mac for his sheer disregard of his own health, Jack had to keep composed and calm, for the kid‘s sake, but underneath the steel facade he was worried- now more than ever.
They stopped a few times so Mac could catch his breath or vomit, or both. But he was getting weaker and weaker each time they forced themselves to moved on again.
After what seemed like an eternity of wandering and stumbling, the weary duo finally reached the road Matty had told them to follow south to where their exfil would be waiting for them. However, that was before Mac got so sick and they missed the time window.
“Over there... there...is light.“ Jack turned abruptly causing a fierce stab in Mac’s side. He cried out in pain suppressing yet another fit of nausea. „Sorry hoss.“
„There is a sign...there...t...left.“
Jack squinted to read „Cloverfield Park Asylum“ A wooden arrow pointed to their new destination. Not what they envisioned, but Mac‘s condition and the approaching storm magnified their urgency to find shelter.
Though trepidation crept withing their souls, they knew the asylum was their only refuge for the time being.
„Seriously...“ Jack was about to start anothr tirade about Mac getting sick and still going on a mission just to land them in a mental asylum but in that moment he felt his partner‘s dead weight.
„Mac, hey, Mac.“, Panic and adrenaline surged within Jack urging him to go faster. The young agent‘s frail body trembled uncontrollably and his hollow gaze spoke volumes of his anguish. „Dammit kid!“ He tightened his grip around Mac‘s chest and pushed through the heavy iron gate to head towards the asylum. The last few steps Jack lifted Mac onto his shoulder ignoring the possible consequences of doing so. Mac groaned in pain but was to weak to protest any further. They sped towards the entrance and rang the bell praying someone would open.
Just in time, when it started to pour cats and dogs outside, a young woman in purple scrubs and a white fluffy sweater opened the massive oak wood door in surprise at the unexpected visitors.
„Ma‘am, please, it‘s an emergency, my friend needs a doctor.“
Jack didn‘t wait for an answer. Composing himself with determination and a firm resolve, Jack stormed past her inside the building shouting for a doctor. Just that very moment an older man in a white coat rushed down the stairs.
„Becky, what‘s going on?“
„Are you a doctor? He needs help, please!“ Jack interrupted him.
The doctor darted towards him, sensing the urgency in his voice and ordered the nurse to get a stretcher.
As quickly as she left, she returned and the three of them worked in accord to lay the young man down as gently as possible.
With a trembling voice Jack quickly explained the symptoms, his words barely coherent amidst his fervor while the doctor started his examination on a barely conscious Mac.
„Sounds like appendicitis. We‘ll have to perform an emergency appendectomy. Becky, I‘m going to need you. Tell Oskar and Tim to keep an eye on everyone.“
Becky ran off to inform the two other staff members- the orderlies and rushed back to join the doctor in the preparations.
The nurse and the doctor acted swiftly, wheeling Mac away into a sterile environment. Since this was a mental asylum they were equipped only with the most necessary tools and medication. That meant there was no actual operation room, so they had to perform the surgery in an impromptu makeshift operating theater- the kitchen.
Nurse Becky quickly sanitized the instruments and lay them out in a tray on the kitchen counter. Mac was parked right next to the tray.
„Mister...uh...“ the doctor waved and called Jack to follow.
„Dalton, Jack Dalton.“
„Mr. Dalton,“ the doctor acknowledged „ I‘m doctor Stevens, this is nurse Becky. We are the only medical staff tonight, so we‘ll need your help as well.“
He snapped on the rubber gloves and handed Jack a pair aswell.
Becky slipped into a sterile gown, then helped the doctor in one and proceded to Jack.
„Please cut off his clothes.“ Jack obediently followed his order. With the safety shears he maneuvered around his unconscious partner and carefully cut through the fabric of his shirt and pants but left his shorts on.
„That‘s fine. Becky…“
Doctor Stevens and the nurse moved swiftly gathering the few necessary instruments and machines available at hand, connecting Mac to a monitor, starting IV-lines, placing an oxygen mask, administering the sedative and sterilizing the abdomen.
„Mr. Dalton, you can wait outside now, we‘ll take care of your son. Please close the doors behind you.“
Reluctantly the older agent stepped back, never leaving Mac out of sight until he passed the door frame. He stood for a while, watching the doctor making his first incision. The scalpel glided through Mac’s pale skin like it cut through soft butter. Blood welled up from the wound and seeing his insides that sight, Jack decided to obey and close the door. Seeing Mac’s insides was something Jack did’t want to experience, ever.
The adrenaline started leaving his body and a surge of relief flooded through him as he sank into a chair in the entrance area exhaustion catching up with his now sore bones and muscles.
His son, he chuckled weakly.
Hours passed, the storm was raging outside and the walls of the asylum seemed to close in on Jack. This place was more like a haunted mansion than a mental hospital or even an asylum. The walls were covered with wooden panels and decorated with old paintings. The stairs, dressed in thick carpets with peculiar patterns leading up to another floor were framed by massive artistically carved wooden railings. A huge antique chandelier decorated the high ceiling and illuminated the entrance area as well as the upper corridors of the first and second floor where the patients‘ rooms were. From time to time he saw one of the two orderlies pass by on the upper floors, nodding at him.
The storm was raging outside but only the wet footprints and little puddles bared witness of the the uninviting weather conditions. Lights flickered as thunder and lightning took turns. One time all the lights stayed off for more than a minute and thoughts traveled into dark corners within Jack‘s mind. Would Mac be alright? Was this place safe, or did he bring his sick defenseless partner right into the anteroom of death? Jack was afraid, worried an angry- all at the same time. Afraid of what the doctor would say once that door opened again; Worried about his friend’s condition and angry because, well, it was Mac’s fault he was in trouble again. How many times did he have to tell him, argue and plead with him to take care of himself more.
He knew, at this point, it was out of his hands. He had done everything he could. There was nothing else.
Jack checked his cellphone countless times- no service- no chance to call Matty or the others. They must be worried, too, as they were supposed to meet hours ago at the Phoenix‘s to debrief. He took a deep breath rubbing his temples.
Suddenly the door to the kitchen swung open and doctor Stevens appeared in the doorway, clad in the stained white gown an exhausted smile on his face. Jack‘s heart skipped a beat- he was ready for good news.
„Your son is going to be just fine,“ he said, his voice carrying an air of exhausted relief. „His appendix was seconds away from rupturing, but we managed to remove it just in time. Thanks to you, he will make a full recovery.“
„Partner, not son.“ Jack corrected the doctor this time, jumping up from his chair, he stemmed his hands into his hips
He would definitely kill Mac once he was awake, but for now, he was just glad he would live.
„Oh, apologies. However,“ the doctor continued almost ashamed „we don‘t have enough medication to treat him further. We are stocked with the bare minimum for the few patients and orderlies on duty tonight and… you friend needs more than that.“
Jack completely ignored what the doctor just said. All he wanted to know was if he could see Mac.
„Please follow me- we moved him into the doctor’s ready room, here on the ground floor. I think he’ll be comfortable there.“
They entered a bright cozy room with two large windows covered by heavy velvet drapes. In between them an antique looking bed and “Mac.” Jack stepped closer to the sleeping blonde, carefully raking his fingers through his still wet curls. His skin felt cold and clammy but didn’t look as pale as before.
The nurse finished arranging the IV line, pillow and blanket. She placed a small night stand next to the bed with a cup of water and Mac‘s cellphone she fished out of his pockets before throwing his clothes away. When Mac was settled to her satisfaction, she pulled a recliner closer to his bedside and left the room kindly smiling at Jack. When he looked up his eyes caught on to the drip that was half empty already.
Jack thought for a moment. If he could reach Matty, they could provide more medication or even a arrange for a medevac.
„Doctor, may I use your landline?
„Of course, please,“ he gestured Jack to step out and follow the corridor until the end.
„ It‘s in the office on the left.“
Jack hesitated to leave Mac‘s side but he was asleep for now and won‘t notice if he left for a minute or two. After all, he was still sedated from the surgery.
“I’ll be right back.” He spoke the words like a mantra until he stepped into the office and rounded the big wooden desk in the far corner by the window. The telephone was a vintage looking, yet still functioning model patiently waiting under the dim light of an old reading lamp.
Jack took the earpiece and listened, then he slammed it down again and rushed back to talk to the doctor.
„It‘s dead.“
„Mr. Dalton, the village is a few kilometers away, just down the road, over the bridge. If you would come with me to get supplies, I am sure the telephones in the valley work- they always do.“
Jack glanced at Mac- still asleep.
Sensing uncertainty in the man, the doctor placed a kind and reassuring hand on Jack‘s shoulder.
„Your friend is asleep and won‘t wake up for a while and I can tell Becky to stay by his side all the time until we return.“ he was hopeful he convinced Jack to go with him.
There were not many options left: Leave now with the doctor to get much needed medication and be able to contact Matty, or stay and wait out the storm but also risk Mac‘s life without the much needed medication.
As if reading minds the doctor added in a stern voice pointing at the hanging drip and another one one in his hands: „These two are our last packs of antibiotics- barely enough throughout the night, let alone until tomorrow, Mr. Dalton.“
Jack snapped out of it and nodded understanding the severity of the situation at hand.
„Let‘s go.“
The doctor lead the way to the garage and with a swift motion unlocked the car and opened the gate. They sped away as fast as the pouring rain allowed, down the road, through the iron gate Jack and Mac left open, towards the village. It would be at least a twenty minutes ride by car, Dr. Stevens explained, but a very necessary one.
Becky stood by the window watching the car‘s lights getting smaller and harder to spot through the dense veil of the rain. After the last curve around the forest they vanished into the dark stormy night.
She drew the curtain and made her way to Mac‘s room where she settled down into the recliner armed with a cup of coffee and her e-book reader. She dimmed the lights and made herself comfortable trying to read her novel. After a few chapters, however, the watchful nurse became an unintentional witness of the man’s torments.
Mac lay motionless, his body still weak from the appendectomy until suddenly his face contorted in pain and stirring restlessly beneath his sheets.
His dreams had never really been a tapestry of vivid colors and beautiful landscapes and tonight was no exception: The sedative had unlocked a hidden door to the depths of his subconscious, allowing his darkest memories, that he so carefully locked away, to rupture forth.
„Dad?“
In the midst of his sedated slumber, Mac was a young boy again, replete with hopeful eyes and eager anticipation, standing in the familiar surroundings of his childhood home. As the vivid beams of moonlight cascaded through the window, casting elongated shadows onto the now empty walls, an unmistakable figure slipped out from the front door.
“Dad?” His heart skipped a beat when he saw his father turning his back again and leaving him alone in the ominous dark.
„Dad? Come back, please, don’t leave,“ the boy pleaded when the shadows grew bigger and bigger, closing in and threatened to engulf his world. Suddenly the elongated shadows turned into unnaturally long claws that started grabbing and pulling at the terrified boy, tearing at his clothes and scratching him until he was left naked and cold, whimpering in a corner. One particular scratch caught him in his lower right abdomen- it was deep and pulsating, blood oozing out, forming a pool underneath him. Streams of tears cascading down his face mixed with the blood, the boy cried out in pain,- the grown man cried out in his sleep.
Overwhelmed with despair, Mac awoke, his body drenched in cold sweat, his breath ragged and trembling.
Through soft whispers and gentle touches, the nurse delicately guided him back to reality.
„Shhhh, it‘s okay. You are okay,“ her voice was soft and comforting as was her tough on touch on his forehead. An exhausted gasp escaped his lips, his mouth felt dry like it was stuffed with cotton balls.
„Here,“ he felt something cool and wet brushing his lips. An ice- chip? Was he in a hospital? Did they make it? Where was he and where was Jack?
Determined to get answers Mac worked hard to open his eyes. At first his vision was blurry and the dim lights didn‘t help much either. He looked around confused, for the color palette didn‘t make sense to him. He expected to see cold white walls of a sterile hospital room with boring and uninviting wall and ceiling tiles. Instead he opened his eyes to a cosy room with warm earthly colors. When his vision cleared it didn‘t grant his eyes searched for Jack’s familiar face. But Jack was not there. Instead he was greeted by a girl he remembered from somewhere, dressed in scrubs, leaning over him, gently holding his face.
„Hey, are you with me?“ she asked. „I‘m Becky. You‘re at the Cloverfield Park Asylum- I‘m a nurse here. Do you remember anything?“
Mac closed his eyes trying to remember where he was, how he got there and why.
„I…Where...s… Jck?” he attempted to get up from bed, struggling with the blanket and the IV-lines when a sharp pain in his abdomen forced him to rethink his sudden movements. Becky gently placed her hand on his chest.
“Oh no, no, no. Only on my command.”
He stared at her bewildered and confused but obeyed and let himself relax back onto the pillow.
„It‘s okay. You are safe. Please, you have to calm down. Everything is okay!”
Mac found truth and reassurance in Becky‘s dark eyes. Still he needed answers. The nurse smiled compassionately and brifly left his bedside to return with another pillow she pulled from a nearby closet.
“I need your help here. Now you can move BUT with me, okay? We don`t want you to pull any stitches.” she ordered. She slid her hand under his head and upper back, while still holding the pillow with the other.
“Slowly does it.” Becky pushed him upwards to support Mac’s effort to raise his upper body and quickly slid the pillow under him. The effort was straining and sweat beads started to form on his forehead. She felt sorry but knew it was necessary to mobilize him as soon as possible.
His body trembled and a pained groan escaped between his clenched teeth.
“You’re doing great.” His whole back was wet and Becky felt the heat radiating from his body while she eased him back down, now in a more elevated position. His eyes were closed and he breathed heavily as if he just ran a marathon. The nurse smiled in satisfaction over their achievement.
„You had an emergency appendectomy- your partner brought you in just in time. You‘ll be fine.”
“ Jack...” Mac shot his eyes wide open and grabbed her hand.
His partner was supposed to be here when he woke up, yet here they were, just the two of them, strangers to one another- without Jack, without Doctor Stevens. She squeezed his hand in return.
„Jack and Doctor Stevens went to get supplies and help but haven‘ t returned yet. I suspect that they were held back by the storm. It‘s gotten really grim out there.“
She look out of the window pondering the truth of her statement. She then turned her attention back at Mac in front of her. He released his grip and the nurse danced around the bed, arranging and checking the lines and sheets once more fluffed up the new pillow a bit, then finished her performance with the change of the drip- the last pack. Judging from the heat his body still radiated, he needed the antibiotics dearly. Her expression changed from chipper to worried but changed back quickly again when she felt Mac‘s gaze upon her.
„Soooooo, are you hungry? You are allowed some clear soup, if you will?“
„Starving“ Mac croaked. Although he didn‘t quite have an appetite yet, his stomach was growling. The last time he ate was… also three days ago. The excruciating pain in his abdomen has receded to a soft throb and the pull of the stitches, when he shifted position.
But he still felt weak- something was still wrong- perhaps a low-grade fever? The appendicitis and the vomiting most definitely took their toll on his body and probably not eating for three days slowed down the healing process. Probably, he thought.
„Very well, I‘ll get you some.“
While Becky left to get the soup, Mac had time to look around a bit. Though a bit disoriented, Mac trusted Jack and knew he would never abandon him in a place like this. The gloomy feeling from his nightmare still lingered in his head and darkened his thoughts: he knew it was his own fault he ended up in scrubs yet again. So perhaps, Jack had enough of him for the last time. Anxious to reach Jack, he spotted his cellphone on the nightstand next to him and tired to reach for it. First with his arm closest to the nightstand, but he couldn‘t even touch so much as the corner of the night stand. Then he tried to shift and turn a bit more. An attempt which he regretted dearly as the stitches pulled at his sore skin and sent little stabs through his body. „Agh…“ he carefully felt around the bandaged site hidden under the sheets and blanket, then slumped back into bed, defeated and frustrated. The lights filickered for a brief moment and turned off completely for several minutes. A hint of panic scratched at the back of his mind before the lights came on again. He needed to call Jack.
Becky returned with a mug, smiling apologetic.
„It‘s not very hot anymore, sorry.“
Mac shifted, this time with caution not to cause any more damage to his wound. He managed to get in a somewhat comfortable position but the few movements since he regained consciousness drained the little energy he had in him. The nurse noticed and instead of handing him the mug, she moved it close to his lips, tilting it lightly until he made his first sip. The soup tasted almost like Bozers‘ Pho: warm, healthy and full of flavor. Gently she held it against his lips until he tilted his head, signaling that he had enough.
“Thanks.” he managed to whisper weakly before exhaustion rolled over him and Mac sunk back onto the pillow.
Within seconds the sick agent fell into a fitful sleep again.