Partner for a Reason

Chapter 6

After Mac was gone, Jack drank some water and looked at his boss. Matty sat down on the chair beside the bed and asked in a soft voice. „How do you feel Jack?"

The Delta grumbled. „Better if everyone would just stop asking me that."

Matty only raised her eyebrow and that was all it took for Jack to cave in. He sighed.

„I feel like shit. Everything is blurry, I feel weak and my head is pounding so bad, I think it's gonna explode any second. I can't concentrate on anything and …" He suddenly stopped and grabbed the bowl from the bedside table and was violently sick. After his stomach had gotten rid of the meager breakfast he had, the heaving continued. When it finally stopped, Jack slumped back into the pillow. He didn't even register Matty taking away the bowl. The Delta tried to breath through the onslaught of pain in his head, but the pressure was increasing until his body couldn't handle it anymore. Jacks eyes rolled back into his head and he was out again. Matty was shocked. „Jack, come on big guy open your eyes." She pushed the call button and soon a nurse appeared. „What's wrong?"

Matty answered concerned. „He threw up and then passed out, he was in a lot of pain. I can't bring him round."

The nurse immediately stepped to her patient and checked his vitals. Soon she nodded satisfied. „He's ok. Such episodes are quite common with a concussion like that, it's likely to happen again until he recovers a bit. Just give him time and he'll wake up on his own. I'll be back to give him something for the pain." She handed Matty a wet cloth and left the room. The director of the Phoenix started to wipe the face of her best tactical agent with gentle movements. After a while Jacks eyes opened, glance unfocused and clearly in pain.

„Easy Jack, it's ok. Do you know where you are?" The Delta nodded slightly. „Medical," he croaked and Matty gave him some water. Jacks eyes cleared up a bit and he asked. „Where's Mac? Is he ok? You didn't send him out alone, did you?" He got agitated.

Matty sqeezed his hand reassuringly. „You need to calm down Jack or you're gonna pass out again. You've sent Mac to your apartment to get some clothes, do you remember?" She was concerned, that he had forgotten something that happened only 15 minutes before.

Jack nodded. „Yeah. Yeah, uh I … I forgot. Sorry for passing out on you boss."

She smiled. „I'll give you a pass this time, Jack. I know you feel like crap, but we need to talk about the things that happened this week. Did Oversight oder you to go on all this missions?"

Jack snorted. „On the Canada op, yes. To the others, well I said no at first. I really didn't feel all that well with the bullet graze and the concussion. Then he started to pull the strings. A little bit of coaxing, mixed with underlying threats and riling me up enough to go out. Playing the guilty card, that it was my fault, when something would happen to the others. No exactly in these words, but I got the message. Playing all the tricks, the bastard's good at." He didn't care what his boss would think about his choice of words.

Matty thought for a moment, then nodded. „That's what I assumed."

Jack continued. „When I came back from … I still don't know which country it was, anyway I went straight to the war room, because I wanted to give him a piece of my mind. And you know what he did? He tried to send me on another assignment. I refused and told him, I would go and check on Mac and then sleep my concussion off. I honestly don't remember everything I said to him and I really don't care, but I tell you something Matty. This isn't over by a long shot. He pursues a goal, I'm just not sure who's his target. I don't trust him and you shouldn't either."