Can't breathe. Weight holding him down. Suffocation-drowning! Mac cried out and tried to twist free. Hands held him down. Darkness. Jack! Jack, why won't you help me?

"Mac, I'm here. I need your help, please wake up." No couldn't be...couldn't...Jack can't get to him, coffin...CAN'T BREATHE! JACK.

"Mac, shhh brother. I need you to wake up, now." Mac frowned. Jack only used that tone when they were about to die. Mac blinked and gasped in a quick breath. Hands held his head, a face leaned close to his. It was blurry but had the unique Jack smell and shape and...Mac reached out-a face, arm, shirt, solid-Jack! Jack was real!

Jack winced at the grooves Mac's fingernails dug into his arm. He fought not to look at the timer. Mac smiled and opened his mouth to talk.

"Mac, I'm super glad you know I'm here. But we are 20 seconds from blowing up-"

"Blo-bomb? There's a bomb?" Mac's whisper was breathless, he was having a hard time focusing and his eyes dropped.

"Yeah, you have to disarm it or we and most of Phoenix goes kaboom." Mac licked his lips frowning. Every second felt shorter and shorter.

"Where?" Jack was relieved. Mac's eyes were more alert. Jack took Mac's hand and guided it to his own chest. Mac's eyes widened.

"How did it get there?" Ok, not completely alert yet. Jack would take what he could.

"It's complicated. You have to-"

"Disarm, right." Mac's eyes sank closed. Jack moved to slap Mac, when he noticed that Mac's hands ran nimbly along the device strapped to his chest. Mac winced as he pressed on a ball of wire. He opened his eyes.

"What color are the wires?"

"Black."

"All of them?"

"Yeah." Mac leaned back taking in a stilted breath. Jack could see the stress of his partner trying to think. He opened his eyes.

"Sally?"

"I'm here."

"Med...cart." Sally spun and dashed into the hall. Jack felt sweat crawl down his body. There wasn't enough time...Wheels thumped as Sally spun a cot in. Mac reached out for the infrared scanner the nurses used to scan the patient's meds. Mac took a shaky breath, spun and smashed the scanner against the bed rail. The plastic case cracked. Mac peeled it apart with shaking hands. He squinted at the small circuit board and pulled something out. He shot Jack a look the older man knew too well.

"Mac-" Mac placed the scanner against the body of the bomb beside the bump of black wires and pulled the trigger. Mac's eyes closed and he grimaced in pain. His body shook as the red light, now much thicker lanced through the bomb. Jack stared at the bomb startled. There was a flash a pop then a steady stream of smoke rising from the device. The digital countdown darkened. Mac's hand went limp.

"You did it." Jack breathed. He grinned at Sally. "He did it!" Sally grinned and sagged into the recliner beside the bed feeling evaporated; she bounced back up to check on her patient. Jack brushed hair away from Mac's slack face. He shot Sally a worried look. Sally put a hand on Jack's shoulder to support them both.

"He's unconscious." She breathed.

"He ain' the only one." Laura said from behind them. The pair turned they had forgotten the older nurse. Laura bent over Felix who had fallen over out cold. Jack and Sally shared a look and burst out laughing. It was finally over.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Jack slowly paced Mac's room stretching his arms and shoulders as he limped. It was good to be able to walk without everything blinking out or feeling like his legs had been sawed off. He stopped by the bed and gazed down at his partner. Mac's fever had slowly decreased. Now he was only a little warmer than normal. Jack's worry hadn't eased. It had been three days since they'd all almost blown up and Mac hadn't woken up yet.

Jack was thrilled the kid wasn't screaming out for him anymore-especially not in that heartbreaking cry of abandonment. Mac was finally getting decent rest, but he laid there pale as his sheets wrapped like a mummy unmoving. Jack swallowed and started pacing again. He looked like one of the dead robomacs. Jack paused to check the pulse in Mac's neck. He did it more than the nurses and doctors. He had to reassure himself he still wasn't in another sick dream, that Mac hadn't died in a coffin, alone, abandoned…

"Hey, Jack." Jack jumped and spun. Sally smiled at him. Jack frowned. Sally had been on leave while the suits evaluated everything that happened. Her usual sparkle was gone. She hadn't been in to see Mac since she left the night she'd been forced to kill someone. Jack hadn't gone to see her because of his own wounds and the endless circus of paperwork that came with a cluster like this week had been. Riley, Bozer, Matty and Laura had all taken turns hanging out at the nurse's house.

Riley had told Jack that she'd been doing as well as she could. Jack winced at the brief flash of pain in Riley's eyes. It wasn't so long ago that Riley had come to him in the same situation. Jack decided to let Sally come to him, if she wanted to.

"You must be getting bored. You want to up business by giving me a heart attack." Sally laughed, it was forced. She crossed to Mac's side and took the blonde's limp hand, "Doc Carl is getting worried that he hasn't woken up yet, but he's lived a horror movie so I figure his body's taking a timeout." Sally didn't answer. She stared at Mac's face. Sally wiped her face. Jack was surprised. Sally was threadbare, and about to crack.

Jack sat in the recliner and leaned forward. Sally sat side-saddle on Mac's bed and busied herself straightening his pillow and covers. Jack caught her hand. She slumped then slowly looked up.

"Jack, I killed another person." She whispered trying to pull her hand away. Jack didn't let go. He waited. Sally spoke faster, "I'd seen you do it without flinching...I knew I had to, but...it was so easy. Not the neck breaking part, that took a lot more muscle than I thought it would, but the decision...instead of kicking her or sitting on her or...I grabbed her head and twisted...I...deliberately...on purpose, with deliberation...killed…" Sally's words ran out. She stared into space, her face empty and overflowing with self disgust and surprise all at once. She met Jack's eyes, "How does that ever go away?"

"It never does Sally. You will always remember how her skin felt, how she felt in your arms, the crunch...all of it will be there just past the corner of your eye ready to comeback when you least expect it. It'll never heal over and lose its impact. I do promise you it helps to talk and have someone help you carry it."

"Is that how you do it?" Sally looked at him, her tears running like blood out of her Mediterranean blue eyes. Jack sighed and rubbed his head. Riley had asked him the same thing.

"In a way," Jack looked deep into Sally's eyes waiting until he knew she was focused on him, "The first time... it was different for me. I was surrounded by other kids in the same boat. It's easy to kill as a job when bullets and explosions are banging around you. But the first time I had to face it in silence...Yeah, Sally. If I hadn't talked to someone I would have gone insane." Sally frowned. This time it was Jack who looked away.

"It doesn't bother you now?" Jack heard the question under the question.

"Sometimes." He answered honestly. Jack looked over at Mac, "When I'm protecting what I love-no it doesn't bother me at all. But there are other times…" Jack closed his eyes. He felt Sally's hand on his knee.

"You do what has to be done, Jack." Jack's smile was sad.

"So did you. I do what I do because I can, so others don't have to...I'm so sorry, Sally." Sally's lip quivered. She reached forward and Jack wrapped her in a hug. He could feel her shaking. Jack pulled her closer and ran his hand through her hair murmuring soothing things. Sally backed off and pulled a wad of tissues out of her purse. Jack waited quietly. Sally smiled at him.

"Thanks, Jack."

"Anytime, Sally...I mean it, if you ever want to talk-" Sally squeezed his hand.

"I know. I will," Sally sniffed and blew her nose. She glanced at Mac then looked at Jack some of the wicked gleam, "Now I see what the big deal is." Jack frowned and leaned back as if she'd slapped him.

"What?"

"Well, Riley, Bozer, Mac and Sam...they have to love you for something more than your fashion sense and cool hair." Jack grinned.

"You think my hair is cool?" Sally leaned forward and kissed Jack on the cheek.

"Sometimes, my friend, sometimes." Sally put a hand on Jack's shoulder as she stood up.

"I'm glad to have you in my family." She said softly. Jack stood and gave her another hug.

"Back atcha, kiddo." Sally smiled gave Mac a kiss on the cheek then left. Jack sat back down shaking his head.

"Night...mare." Jack's head snapped around to Mac who looked up at him groggily. Jack grinned and leaned forward.

"About time you woke up, brother. I was getting a little worried." Mac blinked slowly, "What do you mean nightmare?" Mac rolled onto his side facing Jack. The corners of his lips quirked into a tired smile.

"Had nightmare...you and Sally...were making out…" Jack's face flushed. At the amusement in Mac's eyes, he knew the blonde had seen it. This made Jack's face get even redder. Mac reached out and took Jack's hand in his.

" 's ok, brother." Mac slurred his eyes falling half closed. Jack leaned forward and gently brushed Mac's hair back from his face. Mac sighed and seemed to melt into the bed.

"Maybe I should marry her." Mac cracked his eyes and raised his eyebrow in confusion. Jack chuckled.

"She thinks my hair is cool."

" 's lying."

"Sally wouldn't lie to me, not about my hair." Mac managed to half glare at Jack.

" 's evil."

"Not to me, she likes me." Mac huffed then relaxed into sleep. Jack smiled fondly and ran his fingers through Mac's hair. Jack leaned forward and kissed Mac softly on the forehead. Mac absently swatted at him. Mac grumbled something, but Jack lost it to the pillow.

"I know we don't do mushy kid, but I seriously love you and was scared to death. Losing you...that's the worst nightmare in existence." Mac hummed. Jack wiped his eyes. He felt Mac squeeze his hand.

" 'mnutoo." He mumbled. Jack laid his head on the mattress and drifted off to sleep his hand never leaving his brother's.

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Alrighty then, the horror movie has ended people. I can't thank you enough for reading and commenting, favoriting and following. I put in allusions to many of my favorite horror movies and gleefully tormented our boys at the same time. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. I'm sorry the past few stories I hadn't left any thanks for you loyal readers-THANK YOU! If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be writing. And any improvements in my writing is completely thanks to your comments! I am prepping for Tempest, and you never know what might pop out between now and then-Hugs + Blessings, Pox