"Ok, Ri…?" Jack asked softly as he wiped his bloody knife on the shirt of the fallen guard.

"Mac should be in the third door from the left. I don't see any other guards."

"Roger." Jack forced himself to keep moving slow and steady. He wanted to run to the rusted steel door, tear it off its hinges, and take his brother home, finally. He paused breathing through his mouth. He heard a slight buzz. He followed it to a camera. Jack relaxed and crossed to the door. He pulled out a small shaped charge and molded it around the lock. He ducked back and plugged his ears with his fingers. The small pop sounded like a nuclear bomb going off. He knew it wouldn't take long before things got busy. Jack wrinkled his nose against the wave of fetid stink as he stepped into the hole. Hole was right. The walls, ceiling and floor were all cold stones. No windows, no lights. Jack put a hand over his mouth. God, and Mac had been kept here a whole month? Jack felt himself sink into a cold, calm killing rage. He could hear distant thumps of feet heading his way.

"Jack-" Jack ignored Riley pulling out his maglite and clicking it on. His hand shook. He wanted-no needed Mac to be here, but in this hell...he blinked tears back and scanned the tiny cell. He froze at a figure in the back corner of the hole. At first he thought it was a dirty pile of raggedy blankets, but then familiar blue eyes squinted up at him.

"MAC!" Jack yelled his voice booming in the tiny stone room. Mac whimpered and curled into a ball shying away from his partner. Jack took a steadying breath as he eased closer, "Sorry, brother, I am just so so so glad to see you. We've been going crazy looking for you." Jack turned his head a way swallowing to keep from puking. Mac wore rags and laid in his own filth. His hair was a long matted mess, his face covered by a ragged beard with dried globs in it. His nails were long and dirty. Jack forced his rage back as he gently crouched beside Mac.

"Hey, it's me." Mac slowly looked up. His eyes were dull and bloodshot. His lips dried and cracked. The right side of his face was misshapen by bruises and probably a broken bone or two. Mac reached out a painfully thin claw. Jack gently took it. Mac stared at Jack's hand and his fingers moved across it. It occured to Jack Mac might not be able to see. Jack lifted his partner's hand to his face. Mac ran his fingers across Jack's face. Mac let out a soft whimper and reached out. Jack gently moved forward and wrapped his brother in the biggest hug he'd ever been happy to give.

He could feel Mac's ribs and the knuckles of his spine. He felt open sores and heat poured off the kid. Jack grimaced feeling swollen bug bites. Fleas and lice. Jesus.

"-Jack?" Jack ducked back. He'd forgotten about their situation.

"Yeah, Ri. I found him."

"How is he?" Matty asked. Jack closed his eyes.

"Not good. Boze, we ready?"

"I'm heading in now."

"He ain't the only one, Jack you have to move NOW." Right. Jack pulled back, but held onto Mac enough to keep him steady.

"We gotta go, kiddo." Mac nodded and tried to stand. He fell back with a weak cry of pain. Jack scooped him up with one hand. He moved Mac's arm up to drape across his shoulders. Mac rolled forward to his knees curling his arm close to his body. Busted shoulder. Shit.

"It's ok. We're gonna have to do this the old fashioned way, alright?" Mac shook his head. His lips moved, but he spoke too softly for Jack to hear. Jack didn't have to, he knew what the kid would be saying, "Quit that right there. We tore the world apart looking for you, we ain' losing you now." Mac looked up at him. Jack turned away unable to bear the pain there. He laid the maglite on the slimy floor aimed at the door.

"Ok, I'm gonna stall these dudes. Bozer's on his way and we got a surprise for them. It's going to get real loud, you may want to cover your ears." Jack thought Mac nodded. Jack stepped to the door and listened to the harsh echoes of Urdu. He didn't understand a word, but it didn't matter. He was fluent in a more universal language. Jack smiled pulling his M5 into play.

"Let's dance." He whispered. He ducked around the corner and let loose a long burst. He ducked back as the stone was pockmarked by bullets. Jack turned away from the sparks and stone chips. The terrorists sprayed their weapons empty at the same time. Amateurs. Jack bent around and let loose his own spray and pray. His aim was better than theirs. He used the small dark tunnel to his advantage. After the loud roar of rifle fire, the silence was palpable against his ears. He snatched up the maglite and angled it down the tunnel. They were all down and out. Good. A down payment on the shit storm coming for what they did to Mac.

"Ok, Ma-shit." Mac had curled into a terrified ball and was rocking his hands pressed against his head. Jack crouched down and put out a hand. Mac whimpered and scurried back. He turned away trying to hide in the black shadows.

"Jack, don't shoot!" Bozer called softly.

"Come ahead, Boze." Bozer dashed into the doorway. His hand covered his mouth and he ducked out of the hole puking. Jack gritted his teeth.

"Jack, they're regrouping." Riley said. Jack didn't answer focusing on Mac.

"Mac, hey brother. It's me, Jack." Mac turned and peered at him through the dirty mop of hair. Jack realized Mac's hold on the world was far more tenuous than he'd thought. Jack let out a long breath and slung his M5 over his shoulder. Mac seemed to relax a notch. It dawned on Jack that to Mac he was just a shadow out of focus. Mac had only seen a military silhouette firing a gun. Ok, he could work with that. Jack aimed the maglite at his own face careful to aim it so he wasn't a frightening face coming out of the dark. Mac squinted and slowly crawled closer. Jack didn't move. He forced himself to not flinch at the wave of stink coming from Mac. Mac leaned in close and studied Jack carefully. Up close Jack could see the layers of bruises, cuts and bumps hidden under the grime. Jack ground his teeth together and hoped his inner turmoil didn't show. He didn't want to do anything to scare Mac. Mac's eyes lost some of his fear. Mac's shoulders slumped and he looked away. Jack frowned.

"We ready to go?" Bozer said softly from the door. Mac jumped, his breath hitching. Jack counted it a win when the kid moved closer to him.

"Yeah, let's get out of here." Jack reached out and as gently as he could wrapped his arm around Mac helping him stand. Mac flinched. Jack didn't know if it was being touched or pain. Mac swayed and his knees folded. Jack grabbed him in midair and swung him up in his arms. Mac's body stiffened and his breathing sped up, but he didn't fight to get free. Jack snugged the too-thin man closer and nodded at Bozer. Bozer took the maglite from Jack's hand and led the way out of the compound. Riley guided them past most of the guard units closing in around them.

"They're all around you!" Riley called over the comms.

"Not for long." Bozer said, his teeth and eyes bright in the light. Jack nodded. Bozer raised a control panel and cranked a series of switches. With each twist a bomb exploded in the compound. The last one was deafening. The men were knocked to the ground and stones fell from the ceiling.

"Bozer! That was danger close!" Jack yelled over the ringing in his ears. If Bozer answered, Jack didn't notice. He was distracted by Mac squirming to get away with blind panic. His heart pounded like a frightened bird under Jack's hands, his breathing was rapid wheezing gasps and his whole body shook.

"Aw, kid. C'mere." Jack moved slowly and wrapped Mac in a gentle hug. Mac was stiff for a long minute before he curled around Jack burying his face in the older man's shoulder, "It's ok, brother. We gotcha don't we Boze."

"Absolutely." Bozer said tears leaking out the corners of his eyes.

"Guys, you gotta move." Matty said. Everyone heard the catch in her voice. Jack nodded, forgetting Matty and Riley were miles away.

"Ok let's get the fuck outta here." Jack said. He lifted Mac up, allowing the kid to keep his clinging grip around him. Bozer led the way toward the entrance. They moved fast. Mac's breath puffed against Jack's neck even as his grip loosened. Jack's heart lurched when Mac let go and fell limp in his arms.

"C'mon, Riley-"

"I'm here." Riley gritted and sure enough she was. The panel van skidded to a stop. Bozer opened the sliding door and helped Jack load Mac in. As soon as Mac was laid out, Jack turned raising his M5 keeping the terrorists at bay as the van lurched away. Jack slammed the door shut and ducked as bullets punched holes through the thin metal.

"Matty, where's our cover?" Matty didn't have to answer. A military droid whirled in closer loosing a missile before flying away. The van shook and tilted as the terrorist camp was vaporized. Jack leaned back taking a second to breath and share a grin with Bozer. His grin faded as he saw the full extent of Mac's damage. He gently ran the back of his fingers along Mac's cheek wincing at the bumps he felt under his soft touch.

"Oh God." Riley said glancing over her shoulder. Her attention was pulled back to the road as the van skidded to the side.

"Jack…" Boze said his voice soft with horror.

"Yeah, Boze. I know. This ain't gonna be good."