Not by blood, but by fire and water

Chapter 21

As they neared the double doors with the Turkish words Ameliyat Odası (operating theater) written on them, Mac knew he wouldn't be allowed to go back there. He looked down at his partner, who was unconscious again. Each of Jack's breaths fogged up the clear plastic oxygen mask, that had been placed on him when they arrived.

"We've made it this far, big guy don't give up on me now." Mac gave Jack's shoulder a gentle squeeze and watched him disappear through the double doors.

Mac sat in the waiting room, the unspent adrenaline caused his hands to shake, he lowered his head into his hands and let the heft still them.

He knew the risks he took with this job and accepted them, but this wasn't supposed to happen to the people he cared about. This wasn't supposed to happen to Jack.

With nothing to distract him, the weight of everything that had happened in the last few days started to come crashing down on him. His subconscious kicked in and shoved each of the otherwise debilitating emotions and memories into their own box to be dealt with later, if at all.

Some of the memories started to knife through the barrier. Jack was drowning, choking under the steady stream of water. Sinclair twisting the knife in Jack's side, Jack screaming, he had never seen his friend in so much pain. Jack's blood, too much blood.

Mac squeezed his eyes shut tighter with each painful memory. His tried and true method of compartmentalism had failed him, and as his breath quickened, he felt the room start closing in, suffocating him.

In an attempt to stave off what could only be the beginnings of a panic attack, the young agent pushed himself to stand up, forcing his brain to focus on moving his body instead.

"Excuse me, are you Mr. Harper?" Asked a woman in pale green scrubs.

Mac hesitated long enough to glance around the waiting room. He mentally kicked himself for not looking at the documents Matty had sent. There was only one other person there and they didn't look like they would have an English surname, so he took the chance and replied, "Yes, I am."

"Hello sir, I am the surgical assistant to Dr. Costas and I came to deliver an update on the condition of your father." The woman's accent held a distinct Greek intonation.

Mac felt the pit in his stomach grow with the uncertainty he felt, and his hands trembled along with his voice when he spoke. "How is he?

"We continued the transfusion and he was given five pints of blood total. His vitals improved a great deal and Dr. Costas was able to remove the bullet. She is currently performing debridements to the two infected knife wounds," the woman informed him, "Your father will be moved to the intensive care unit to start antibiotics. He has a very serious infection, but as long as no complications arise, we think he will recover just fine."

Mac choked out the breath he had been holding, then stepped over to the chairs to plop down in one. His legs suddenly felt weak and wobbly.

"Your father has a very strong will, I've never seen someone survive so much blood loss before," the assistant stated with a look of awe on her face.

"Yes, he does," Mac agreed with a smile. "Will you notify me when I can see him?

"Yes, as long as he stays stable in the recovery room, he will be moved to the ICU and you can visit him there," The nurse nodded in the affirmative.