The car ride was mostly silent, and it was getting on jack's nerves. 

Because he had no clue what was going on.

Had Luis some how found out what jack and the team where up to? They had been so careful, yesterday, sending bozer to tell maddy about jack's plan. And acting as if nothing had changed in Mac's house just so nothing would tip this  dipshit off. 

know one spoke till they where all sitting in Luis five star hotel room, and jack had all but been strap searched for bug's or trackers, that they would never be able to find, thanks to Mac making and hiding on in the ring jack had been wearing. 

"so tell me jack. how is it I send you to do a simple hit and you mange to get captured by your old team?" Luis asked as he took a drink from the flask he always kept on him.

"cut the crap Luis you knew damn well the mark was meeting them they. and you sent me in anyway, you know the risk. and you took it. besides I got the job down, so I don't see much of a problem."

Luis laugh and put his flask away. replacing it with a four inch long silver knife. he rose and made his way to the coffee table that was in front of jack and took a seat.

"the problem is that you where with them for some time who knows what you told them" Luis said twirling the blade in his hand. 

jack knew what Luis was playing at, known it since the fake phoenix agent had stoped him from leaving. Luis having how taken out his future farther in-law was looking for his fall guy. someone to pin the whole on. 

that's why he'd had jack do the killing when he could have. that's why he made jack stay instead of coming back. he was building up a case against jack. 

and really jack had to give it to the guy. what better story to tell then, I though he was some one we could trust but he was a double agent the whole time and now it cost us are leader and my wife's fathers life. it was a goos story and jack almost felt bad for having to spoil it. 'almost'

"we both know I didn't tell the phoenix shit. your just looking for a fall guy to take the heat."

"your right" with that Luis lunged forward and sunk the knife in jack's thigh, all  the to the hilt. jack let out a scream of pain and tried lunging at Luis but to of his gorilla's graded jack by his shoulders. pinning him the his chair.

"you son of a bitch" jack snarled.

"that. is me just warming up." one of the gorilla's had apparently had left the room because now they where handing It to Luis. 

the guards forced jack's hands behind the back of the chair and tied them in place, then moved to stand with the boss. 

"you know I haven't and this much fun in some time" Luis mocked as he grabbed hold of the blade handle and started to twist as he pulled it out, but the blade only made it half way out before Luis slammed it back down.

the pain was almost blinding but jack found him self laughing. 

"you think this is funny, do you. well I'll be giving you plenty to laugh at."

jack just let out another humorless laugh and said. " you should never leave your backs to the door."

every one in the room turned all at once to see what looked to jack to be a bottle of bleach leaking some kind of white smoke. 

Luis turned back to jack with fury in his eyes. as the guards all started coughing and groping to the floor with loud thuds.

but Luis like jack must have been holding his breath. because he was doing just fine. he was doing so good in fact that he was able to pull out a gun and leave it at jacks head. and it was as If the world stopped he was going to die, and that fact should probably scare the crap out of jack but for some reason it didn't it almost felt welcome. 

jack closed his eyes and took the breath that his lugs where scramming for. 

the last thing jack heard was a gun shot. then everything went black. 

Mac Riley bozer and Maddy have all been sitting in the waiting room of  phoenix med for what felt like forever but was more likely a few hours. 

when jack had told them his plan to go in alone an have them fellow, Mac had said know for this very reason. 

they may have jack back but he isn't the same. not that Mac can blame him. who knows what jack has been though. 

but there was one thing Mac was sure of the jack he knew would never have just closed his eyes and waited for the bullet. 

a bullet that would have killed him not just grazed his head, if it weren't for Riley shooting the basted first. 

another hour has pasted and Maddy and bozer have both left, Maddy had work and bozer was to tired to argue when Maddy told them to all go get some rest. 

now it was just a sleeping Riley and Mac. 

Riley looked so peaceful when she slept. and watching her almost made Mac forget where they are and why they're here . 

Mac was almost asleep when a doctor came to talk to them. 

"mister Dalton is going to be just fine. I was able to repair the damage to his leg."

"can we see him" Mac asked in a low voice hopping not to wake Riley. 

"yes. but only for a few minutes. he's been though a lot and needs rest."

"can we both go or just one of us" Mac asks not wanting to have to wake his sleeping girlfriend if he didn't have to. 

"only one of you. and like I said you'll have to make it quick."

once at jack's door the doctor left. Mac opened the door slowly not wanting to wake jack it he was asleep, which of course he wasn't. even though he should still be out from the amount of drugs he's on. 

"how you feelin' big guy." Mac asked as he took a seat in one of those uncomfortable plastic chairs that all hospitals seemed to love to use. 

"pretty good considering I got stabbed in the leg, GSW to the head, and what every the hell you mixed up to knock ever body out." jack replied southern accent coming out even thicker then normal, thanks to all the drugs he's on.

"you had us all scared for a bit. and you owe one hug thank you to Riley. she shot Luis before he could shot you, dead at least."

"yea I'll get right on that. where is she anyways? you draw the short straw to come talk to me?"

"what no. why would you even think that. Riley is sleeping in the waiting room, bozer and Maddy had some needed to sleep and get some work down."

" I'm compromised Mac. which means I'll never be able to work here again. hell I'll be lucky if I don't end up in a sell across of Murdoch when I get out of here."

"jack there's know way Maddy would let that happen. besides you haven't down anything to get sent to a supper max. and after every thing that you did to help stop the arms smugglers there's know way that you won't be aloud back to work here."

"I did a lot of bad that you have know idea about. I killed so many people for the son of a bitch, and didn't even blink twice. because I just didn't care, they worn't body to me anymore they we'er just a means to an end."

"jack I know you and there's no way that you killed without reason. so what was it they wouldn't have gotten you to kill for them by theating your life. and I know for a fact that you didn't do it for the money. so that leaves only one thing. you did what you had to to keep your family safe."

"to keep me Riley Maddy and boz safe. just like since the day I first meat you. all you've ever down is keep me safe."

jack let out a wet humorless laugh. and said. "down a pretty crap job of it, seeings how you seem to be the one always getting it."

Mac sighed. he wasn't getting anywhere's. but at least some of the old jack was finally coming back. 

it was just going to take time. and Mac and the other's would wait as long as it took.

"jack look at me." Mac waited for jack to do so, and for a moment Mac thought he wouldn't but then those deep brown half lidded eyes meat his. wand he was reminded that he should probably wrap this up so jack could get some sleep.

"jack out of all of us you have the hardest job. keeping are dumb ass's safe. and it's a job you do better then just about anyone. and I have missed having someone I know without a doubt will always look out for me, having my back. so here's how this is gonna work. your gonna rest up get better and be my over watch again." 

"now get some sleep I'm sure everyone's gonna want to see you in a few hours"

with that Mac headed for the door. but just as he was about to pass though back into the hallway  jack called out.

"don't think I don't know about you and my baby girl. we will be talking about this."

Mac just turned back smiled and said. "good night jack" then he closed the door and headed back to Riley. 

just wait till jack finds out Rileys pregnant....

I don't know I wasn't sure how to end it. so this is it. for now there may be a sequel at some point.