Author's notes: This story combines the universes of my TS/MacGyver series with the TS/Mag7:ATF story, Refuge. It takes place about a year after Refuge and Charming the Hawk (March 2001)
For the Mag 7 fans unfamiliar with my TS/MacGyver series, I suggest two options: 1) Read the first five stories in the series (The Maze, Control, Coatlicue, Ares Bugle, and Heirs to a Nightmare) first. They are on Wolfpup's site at:http://wolfpupsden.skeeter63.org/cindycombs.shtml. These stories develop the relationship between Blair, MacGyver and Sam, and events from several of these stories will be mentioned. Or, 2) read my little spoiler blurb at the end of this story. While I would recommend option #1, I realize that some of you may not be interested in the other series. However, if you select option 2 and decide to read the stories listed above later, be aware that some of the events within the five stories will be spoiled.
In addition, a few events from episodes in Black Panther Production's Cascade Virtual Tales are mentioned. Evermore's In Absentia from season six is the stepping stone for this story, but also included are Shallan's It's Not Just Academic, Emerald's NOW He's a Cop (both season 5), and my Brother Born for Adversity (season 6). CVT can be found at:http://www.blackpantherproductions.org/
Also, Jack O'Neill and Daniel Jackson of Stargate SG-1 will put in an appearance. They were 'introduced' to the TS/MacGyver characters in my story Weardians and Witans, and some references to will be made to the story. It can also be found at Wolfpup's page.
I would also like to thank several people. Sealie, for all her patience and beta'ing; Rona, for helping me bounce around ideas; Toni Rae, for our talks about switching stations and the country's power grid; Zadra, for keeping my characters in character; Malu and Kerensa, for all their support and encouragement; Wolfpup for her beta'ing, and Elizabeth and Lady Angel for posting it.
Please send any comments to spacecloud@juno.com
Enjoy the ride.
Disclaimer: Most of characters are not mine. I'm borrowing them out of deep reverence, affection and respect. I will accept only personal fulfillment, and no monetary gain. If you do sue, you will not get much and I will send over my Black Lab mix, who will stare at you pathetically for hours and probably con you out of all your food.
Please do not reproduce, copy, or otherwise use any part of this story without permission from the author.
Rated PG-13, mostly for language. Trust me, these guys aren't saints.
[Top | Part One | Part Two | Part Three | ]
Jim stepped on the brakes, stopping the vehicle just short of a snow slide. Quietly, so as not to disturb his dozing guide or the sleeping ATF agents in the back seat, Jim slipped out and shut the door. As he walked forward in the strong wind, he could hear another door close. Vin joined him at the edge of the snow.
For a moment, they both studied the six foot deep bank glittering in the starlight. Then Vin softly commented, "We aren't going to get through this."
Jim shook his head. "Not without a bulldozer or two. Also looks like there's another slide ready to go." Jim tried not to shiver as the wind drove the cold through his ski jacket.
Vin shoved his hands in his pockets. "Guess we're going to have to find another way down." As Jim turned back, Vin added softly, "Nice eyesight, by the way."
Jim froze in his tracks. "What do you mean?"
"Saw a tape of Sandburg's press conference. Interesting show. Probably would've believed it if I hadn't met him and seen you do a few things I couldn't explain."
Jim sighed as he turned back around. "Your question?"
"No question. You're one of those sentinel guys. Knew that before you started driving without headlights tonight."
"You tell anyone?"
"Nope. Ezra saw the same tape, and from what little he said, he's figured it out, too. But don't worry about him; Ez's the expert at keeping secrets. Our partner, Josiah, brought the tape to our attention, and I told him to drop it. He did."
Jim sighed. How many people did it take to find out about a secret before it was no longer a secret? "Well, it's probably a good thing you know anyway."
"How come?"
"Your JD said something that made Blair think you have enhanced sight."
Vin shrugged. "Sure, I can see good. Helps with my shooting. But I'm not one of you sentinels."
Jim chuckled. "Already told him that." At Vin's curious look, Jim explained, "I can sense other sentinels. I can't sense you."
Vin grinned. "Well, I do shower regularly." After Jim snorted, Vin asked, "How many others have you met?"
"Three. Only one you'd want to meet, though. Anyway, Blair believes that a person who carries the sentinel gene, but isn't a sentinel, will have one to three heightened senses. My brother's sense of touch is above normal. You could be a carrier."
"What do you mean by 'carrier'?" Vin asked.
"You can pass the sentinel genes to your children," Blair's voice popped up behind them. As the two former rangers turned, Blair grinned at them, bouncing in place to keep warm. "If you mate with the right woman, you could produce a sentinel like Jim."
Vin lifted an eyebrow. "Sounds like you're talking about livestock."
Jim smirked as he cuffed his partner's head. "Now you know what I live with."
"Yeah, yeah," Blair countered. "Laugh it up. But really, Vin, if both you and the woman you hook up with carry the right genes, there's a possibility your child could be a sentinel."
Vin shook his head. "That's if I can find a woman who'll have me."
Jim gave Vin's neck a comforting squeeze. "You will."
Blair continued to bounce in place. "It's freezing out here. What's going on?"
"We're stopped by an avalanche," Jim explained.
"Which means we're going to have to take a much longer route to get back to Ridgway." Vin sighed in frustration.
"We also need to keep trying the phone," Blair commented, trying to keep his teeth from chattering. "We've got to reach Mac."
"Good idea, Chief," Jim replied as he ushered the younger men back to the Explorer. "We need to call your dad before he runs into militiamen."
"You don't think he would, do you?" Vin asked before opening the door. He glanced inside to check that Buck was still sleeping. "The western slope covers a lot of territory."
"Oh yeah, he would," Jim replied darkly. "Who do you think passed the trouble-attracting genes to Blair and Sam?"
Dawn was just peaking over the ridge as Jack O'Neill stepped out of his cabin. He took a deep breath, enjoying the crisp mountain air. There was just something about the peaceful surroundings. Jack couldn't think of a better way to recover from a hard mission than to enjoy the Rockies in their winter splendor.
Quietly closing the door behind him, Jack trotted down the steps and walked over to the woodpile. Last night, Daniel had insisted that he do most of the chores, but Jack hated to be waited on. He planned to have breakfast all made by the time his friend woke up. Considering how late Daniel was up reading the night before, Jack knew he had time.
As he began to stack wood in the crook between his cast and chest, Jack heard a truck grinding over the four wheel drive trail. Since traffic was rare on the remote road, he turned to see which neighbor was out so early, especially in winter. He didn't recognize the Ford, but waited patiently when it stopped nearby.
"Howdy," called a man leaning out the open window. "Do you know which county road this is?"
"Actually," Jack drawled, "you're on the Rugged Peak Mine Trail."
Inside the truck, Jack could see a young man flipping through a map. Then he caught the glare of the third man inside. Even the dark beard couldn't hide the sneer on the face. "Hey Paul, that's Dexter Fillmore."
"Fillmore!" The driver glared at Jack.
Jack blinked back in confusion. "Who?" Then he saw the men reach inside their jacket. "Ah, guys..."
As guns cleared their coats, Jack dived for the slight cover of the woodpile. "Come on out, Mr. Fillmore!" the driver shouted. "You're going to meet justice."
"For crying out loud, I don't know any Fillmore," Jack shouted back. "I'm Col—" His voice was interrupted by gunfire. "Damn it," Jack muttered to himself. "Regulations or not, next time I'm slipping out a zat gun."
Chris stomped his feet to keep warm, watching the sun rise. He still didn't know where they were, except that they weren't near the main road.
Behind him, Sam was perched on the roof of the Dodge, holding a stretched-out coat hanger where the radio antenna once resided. "Tape," he requested.
Ezra handed him a length of electrician's tape. From his seat inside the cab, JD asked, "You really think this will work?"
"Ought to." Sam carefully wound the tape around the base of the antenna, the hanger, and the roof. "Got to try something."
JD sighed as he tinkered with Ezra's satellite tracker. "Yeah, I'm hoping Buck and the rest of the guys are okay."
"Me, too. Plus my Dad's suppose to drive to Harry's cabin at some point today. I don't want him walking into this mess without warning." Sam banged the top of the roof. "Try it now." As JD turned to the radio, Sam glanced at the pacing Larabee. "He doesn't look happy."
"Mr. Larabee is rarely happy." Ezra examined his boss with a frown.
Sam raised an eyebrow at his new friend. "That doesn't sound reassuring."
"Oh, his leadership may be tough but he is always forthright, intelligent and truly cares for his subordinates. However, having both Mr. Wilmington and Mr. Tanner missing is an insufferable burden for Mr. Larabee."
"How come?"
"He and Buck have been compatriots since high school, and then were partners while employed by the Denver PD. More recently, Vin has become Chris' right hand man. Chris treats him like a beloved younger brother. For one of them to be missing would be difficult for our fearsome leader. To have both of them missing is intolerable."
"So that's why he looks like a bomb ready to explode?"
"Exactly, Mr. Malloy."
"Sam."
Suddenly, the sound of gunfire echoed off the rock. "Let's go!" Chris ordered, dashing to his truck. Sam was barely inside before they were rolling.
Jack flinched as a splinter of wood flew past his face. Unarmed and pinned down, there wasn't much the Air Force Colonel could do except duck.
Thankfully, the welcomed sound of a shotgun cocking cracked through the air. "Hold it!" Daniel's voice sent a surge of relief through the colonel.
One of the bad guys turned his gun turned the cabin. Jack heard a boom from the shotgun, then the sound of the door slamming. Bet Daniel wishes he had a staff weapon about now. We need more practice with Earth defenses.
After another boom from the cabin and another wood shower for Jack, the sound of a truck roaring down the lane reached their ears. The three men in the Ford jumped back into their vehicle. Once the truck raced back down the road, Jack cautiously rose from behind the torn-up logs.
The black Dodge Ram slammed to a halt in front of Jack. Barely aware of Daniel walking up behind him still holding the shotgun, Jack called out, "Hello?"
A tall blond man dressed in black jeans and a long leather coat stepped out of the truck. He looked at Jack in surprise. "MacGyver?"
Jack sighed. "No, I'm not MacGyver. And I'm not Dexter Fillmore. So who are you?"
Climbing out the other side, Sam studied the scene in front of him. "Like Blair said: sounds like Dad, looks like Dad, but hair way too short." Before Ezra could ask what he meant, Sam raised his voice. "Colonel O'Neill?"
Jack and Daniel stared at the young man for a moment. "Sam Malloy?" Jack asked.
A smile stretched across Sam's features. "Yep."
Jack walked over, holding out his hand. "I've heard a lot about you."
"Same here," Sam replied, shaking the hand warmly.
"Well, I haven't!" Chris glared at the pair, trying not to stare at the man who looked like the bomb expert he had worked with only 24 hours ago. "So will someone tell me what in the hell is going on?"
Blair adjusted the seat and mirrors as he took over the driver's seat. With dawn brightening the horizon, they didn't need someone with sentinel eyesight. It was time to give Jim a well-deserved break.
Buck ducked back inside, rubbing his arms. "Brrrrrr."
"How's the leg?" Jim asked as he dug into his bag and handed out power bars.
"Sore, but I can walk on it," Buck assured him.
Blair rubbed his hands together. "So where to?"
"We're going to need gas soon," Jim pointed out.
"Be nice if we could find a phone or a place where we can use our cells," Buck added.
"Well," Vin drawled as he picked a bar and opened the wrapper. "I know of one town close by, but we might not want to go there."
"How come?" Blair asked.
"It's where Ezra snuck into Sam's jeep."
Buck shot his friend a puzzled look. "I thought you and Chris said that was militia territory."
"Yep."
"And Chris said that store clerk kept glaring at you and your long hair."
"Yep."
"But it has a working phone?" Jim injected.
"Yep."
Jim and Blair traded looks. "They obviously have no idea what we look like, if they're mistaking Sam for me," Blair pointed out.
"You'll still have to keep your head down," Jim replied. "We didn't get all of Kincaid's followers, as that attack after the verdict proved. And they do know what you look like."
"We told the clerk that Sam was our cousin," Vin inserted. "He made a crack about not wanting our party tromping through his store."
Jim smirked, catching the sly gleam in his friend's eye. "So if Blair, Buck and I walk in, we could all be heading for Ouray and he'd only think we're more nuisances?"
"Yep."
A huge grin broke out across Buck's face. "You know, it could work."
Jim nodded. "Let's give it a shot."
Nathan watched as a member of Team Four gave MacGyver a steaming cup of coffee. The medic easily saw the signs of fatigue in the man he had come to respect. Sensing Josiah stopping by his shoulder, he quietly asked, "Did he get any sleep last night?"
"Nope." Josiah also watched as the county sheriff approached their friend. "He's pretty worried about his boys."
"Can understand that, but it won't help if he wears himself out."
Josiah shrugged. "Something about being a father lends itself to worry. I suspect the only one of us who might understand is Chris."
"Man, I hope they contact us soon."
"Amen, brother."
"Hey, Sanchez!" Josiah turned to greet Team Four's leader.
MacGyver blew the steam off the cup in his gloved hands, forcing his voice to remain even. "Any sign that Sam was hurt in the crash?"
"No, none," Sheriff Connor was quick to reassure. "At least he was mobile enough to keep up with the fed."
"What about where they were meeting Blair and Jim?"
The sheriff paused. "The park was shot up."
Mac winced, all too easily imagining those bullets piercing one of his sons or Jim.
"But only the fed's truck was there, and it had three flats. Considering we're talking about eight men, two more vehicles, and no evidence that they left on foot, I suspect they managed to escape."
The muffled ring of a phone broke into the conversation. Mac shoved his free hand into his pocket and pulled it out. Using his teeth to yank up the antenna, he flipped it open and answered, "Hello?"
//"Dad! Great, I caught you."//
"Sam?" Mac responded, lifting an eyebrow at the sheriff. "Where are you?"
//"Trust me, you do not want to know. It's a bit of a mess here. I just didn't want you to leave for the western slope today until we've got it under control."//
"Ah, Sam, I've already heard about the mess."
Dead silence. //"Did Blair get a hold of you?"//
"No."
More silence. //"Where are you?"//
"Ridgway."
//"Ridgway? Ah, man! Dad, these militia guys want Dexter Fillmore."// Mac sighed, easily filling in a few blanks. // "You're not by yourself, are you? These guys tend to shoot first and ask questions later."//
"Nah, I'm with the guys I was working with. Who are you with?"
//"Some of their co-workers."//
"Your brother and Jim?"
//"Well, that's a long story. But Colonel O'Neill says we're only forty-five minutes from Ridgway, and I can give you the scoop once we're there."//
Mac blinked. "O'Neill's in this too?"
//"Like I said, it's —"//
"A long story, I know. Just get here."
Leaving Vin to gas up the rented Explorer at a rundown station at the edge of town, the other three entered the store. Jim casually walked over to the food aisle while Blair wandered over to the refrigerated section. Buck sauntered over to the counter.
Buck noticed that while the man's gaze simply slid over himself and Ellison, he glared when he noticed Blair's long hair. The action made Buck's blood pressure rise. Blair didn't look that scruffy, and anyone who was smart and brave enough to have taught college level classes deserved respect in Buck's humble opinion. Plus, he could easily picture the same glare directed at Vin. Buck was rather amazed Chris hadn't rearranged the bastard's face yesterday. He certainly felt like it. Pushing aside the thought in order to do his part in the scheme, Buck gave the man a huge, friendly grin. "Sir, do I need a license for ice fishing, or is that just for warm weather?"
Jim smirked as he listened to Buck discuss the finer points of fishing. The gregarious agent was growing on him. He picked up a box of breakfast bars and four packages of beef jerky. He spotted Blair nonchalantly walking towards the phone next to the cooler. Tilting his head, the sentinel could hear his guide dialing MacGyver's satellite phone. He stretched a little further, catching other voices in the back room. Frowning, Jim focused on them.
"Has Kincaid left for Russell station yet?"
"A few minutes ago. It will be a glorious moment for our cause when he blows it up."
"I just hope we can take care of Sandburg and Fillmore for Kincaid. Seems like that's the least we can do."
Tension clawed its way up Jim's spine. Kincaid was going to blow up a station? It couldn't be the Kincaid he and Blair just testified against. Was it family? What kind of station? Just when the situation was complicate enough, a Kincaid jumps into the mix. Taking a deep breath, he walked over to his partner.
"Yeah, Mac, we're fine. Sam's coming? Great, we should be there in another couple of hours." Blair looked up to see the concerned look on Jim's face. "Just a sec."
"Tell Mac I've picked up something, but we can't discuss it here. We'll call him back from a safer location."
Lifting an eyebrow at his partner, Blair softly repeated the message to his father. After listening a moment, Blair nodded. "Okay, will do." He hung up the phone and exchanged looks with Jim. Jim tapped his ear. Catching the meaning, Blair gave a slight nod as he picked up the bottles of water and juice he had picked earlier. Together, the partners walked up to the counter.
Buck turned, giving both a smile as he read their faces. "Let me help you with those, Prof." He unloaded the various bottles out of Blair's arms.
The guy at the counter leveled another glare at Blair's long hair, only to look up and meet the ice directed at him from Ellison. One glance at the large, muscular man, who looked like he would enjoy breaking him into tiny pieces, and the clerk quickly ran up their purchases.
Once they were driving away in the Explorer, Buck lost the smile and asked, "Problem?" Vin swiftly glanced around, wondering what was going on.
"I overheard two guys in the store talking about wanting to get Sandburg and Fillmore for Kincaid."
"We already knew that," Blair pointed out as he drove, puzzled.
"Yeah, but they were talking about a Kincaid who was about to blow up a station for them."
"What?" Buck exclaimed. "What station?"
"Either of you ever heard of Russell station?"
Both agents shook their heads. "Town? Train station?" Vin asked.
"Haven't a clue."
"Well, it can't be Garrett Kincaid," Blair pointed out. "The feds should have him all nestled in his new federal penitentiary home by now."
"Could be family, Chief."
Blair shuddered. "That's a scary thought."
Buck was frowning as he searched his memory. "We knew that this militia was planning something big. That's why we sent in Ezra. And he did say that the new player who came in a couple days ago was an explosives expert. I wonder if that's this second Kincaid guy?"
"Another Kincaid who's an explosives expert?" Blair shuddered again. "Oh, joy."
"I think we need to call Chris," Vin suggested.
"Agree," Jim replied.
"Which means we need another phone," Buck pointed out.
Peering ahead, Jim smiled. "Or perhaps we can borrow a radio."
"Huh?" Buck glanced around. "What radio?"
Jim nodded his head forward. "That radio."
At the corner of the side road they were on and highway 550 was a sheriff's department car. Blair pulled up beside it, surprised to recognize the driver as the deputy Jim had scared the day before.
Jim got out to greet the younger man. "Need to use your radio."
The deputy opened his mouth to protest, then remembered who it was making the request. He then recognized one of the other three men as the fed from the day before. Gulping, he nodded and replied, "It's all yours."
Ezra made a face as he sipped the horrible coffee the deputy had given him. Its only redeeming quality was that the liquid was hot. He hated the cold air more than the coffee.
Thankfully, watching young Malloy give his father a welcoming hug helped to distract him from his misery. He could see the resemblance between the photojournalist and the lanky, unassuming man. Buck's legend barely seemed old enough to have fathered either Sam or Blair, but the deep love between them was obvious. Ezra felt a bit envious — Maude would have never lowered herself to make that sort of 'scene' in public.
Then the Colonel they had rescued, who did look amazingly like Sam's father, walked up. "Gus."
Ezra noted the surprised look on Sam's face at the name. His father only sighed. "Hi, Jack."
"I've only got one question." Jack stared sternly at his double. "Dexter Fillmore? Dexter Fillmore? Isn't Angus MacGyver nerdy enough for you?"
MacGyver only rolled his eyes as his son managed to look both shocked and amused. "That's the point. I sometimes needed to be a nerd when I was working undercover for the DXS."
"You are a nerd," Jack pointed out.
"Not that much of one," Mac countered as Sam snickered. He leveled a glare at his son. "I'm not."
"Hey, don't get me into this," Sam protested with a smirk.
Mac relented with a soft smile. "You want to explain what's going on?"
Sam quickly launched into his report. Ezra watched MacGyver absorb the story, noting the intelligence lighting his eyes. The undercover agent recognized it as the same light he had seen in Sandburg's eyes. Apparently, Blair's legacy from his father was intelligence instead of looks.
The Colonel was also listening to the story, frowning when Sam told about the shootout at the park. "Do you know if Blair and Jim are okay?"
Sam shook his head worriedly. "We haven't seen them since."
"Blair called me a few minutes ago," Mac inserted. "They're all okay. But Jim broke in to say that he picked up something and they'd call us back."
Ezra noted the brief exchange as father's and son's eyes met. It was easy for the agent to deduce that both were in on Sandburg's secret. Ezra took another sip of coffee as he studied the Colonel's face. A slight shift indicated that he knew about Ellison as well. Interesting.
Nathan waved at MacGyver to grab his attention. "Chris's got your son on the phone."
As everyone gathered around the patrol car, Ezra could hear Buck explain, "...heard someone say a guy named Kincaid is going to blow up someplace called Russell station, but Jim and Blair don't think it's the same Kincaid they testified against."
"That goes along with what we got," Josiah replied. "Nathan, Mac and I have found evidence that the bomber we're investigating is Decker Kincaid, and he left the Front Range a couple of days ago."
"Which would correspond to when Ezra's mystery explosives expert showed up," Chris pointed out, looking to Ezra for conformation.
Ezra absently nodded his head as he stared at the ground, thinking hard.
"That would also explain how Ez got made," JD inserted. "Ezra helped Buck on a couple of bombs before we left the Front Range, and I bet the bomber spotted him at the scene.
Suddenly, Ezra's head popped up. "Did you say Russell station, Buck?"
//"That's right."//
"Damn." The rest of Team Seven looked at their undercover agent in surprise. Ezra rarely broke his sophisticated image by swearing. "Do you know when?"
Jim's voice entered the conversation. //"It sounded like they were heading there now."//
"Wait a minute," MacGyver interjected. "Isn't that one of the main electrical switching stations for the western US?"
"That is correct," Ezra answered. "If this Kincaid was able to disable or destroy it, it could disable the entire western power grid."
"The entire grid?" Chris repeated in surprise.
Ezra nodded. "The grid is set up like a doughnut. A few years previously, a double failure at a similar station did bring down the entire network."
Josiah nodded. "I remember that. Huge areas lost power."
"That would be one powerful statement for a militia out against the federal government, no pun intended," Nathan pointed out. "MacGyver and I need to get there quick."
"The station is up near Montrose." Ezra reached for the map Sam still held.
//"Then we're closer."// Buck's voice was infused with worry. //"Are we talking a bomb like those in Denver?"//
"Right," Chris replied grimly.
Mac glanced at Nathan. "Wilmington is your normal demolitions man, right?" Nathan nodded. Mac raised his voice. "Agent Wilmington, MacGyver here. Are you familiar with the Denver bombs?"
//"Yes, sir."// Chris could hear the unusual respect in his friend's voice. //"I was the one who wrote up the first reports and recommended to Chris that we needed an expert."//
MacGyver turned to Larabee. "I could talk him through if they find it."
"Hear that, Buck?" Nathan asked.
//"Yeah, and I'm willing to give it a shot."//
Everyone looked at Chris. Chris fought to keep the sudden surge of anxiety in his gut from showing on his face. "There'll be more militiaman than just the bomber."
Vin entered the conversation. //"He ain't going in alone, Cowboy."//
//"If the sheriff doesn't mind lending Sandburg and me weapons, we can help,"// Jim added.
Chris closed his eyes as he made his decision, weighing the risks to his men and fellow law officers against the potential damage and injury to others. Damn it to hell, why does it have to be a bomb? After taking a deep breath, he announced, "Then let's do it."
Jim, Blair, Buck and Vin knelt behind a large pile of rocks. Passing a pair of binoculars to Blair, Buck asked the air, "Why do those guards look wrong to me?"
"Cuz they're wearing the same fatigues Ez was wearing?" Vin suggested.
"That would be it." Buck shook his head. "They've got to be militia, which means they've taken over the station."
Blair peered through the binoculars. "I count two guards."
"Three," Jim corrected. "There's one behind that pole."
"So how are we going to get in?" Blair asked. "While we could probably handle the guards, what about that fence? It's got to be ten feet high and electric."
Jim and Vin exchanged glances. Jim turned to the other agent. "Wilmington, think you and Sandburg could take care of the guards by yourselves?"
Buck nodded. "Sure. You and Junior handling the fence?"
"Yep," Vin replied.
Wrinkling his brow, Blair looked up at this partner. "How are you taking out the fence?"
Jim slapped him on the back as he stood up. "If we told you that, we'd have to kill you."
"Hey!" Blair protested, trying to transmit his concerns with a glare.
Reading the expression, Jim gently squeezed his partner's shoulder. "I'll be careful, Chief."
Deep blue eyes stared into ice blue, then Blair finally nodded.
"Give us a ten minute head start," Vin advised his own partner.
Buck smirked at him, though his eyes were concerned. "Just watch your backside, Junior."
"See you in fifteen," Vin returned.
Chris led the group from Ridgway in his truck. He could see Josiah in an ATF van behind him, with an occasional glimpse of the Sheriff's car behind the van. Tension crawled up his spine as he tried not to remember another bombing. You better not blow up with that damn thing, Bucklin, or I'll kick your butt all the way to hell.
JD sat next to him, holding on tight to his cell phone. Even he knew better than to interrupt Chris at that moment. The young man was worried, too. Buck had told him that the Denver bomber's work was more complicated than the run-of-the-mill bombs he was used to handling. JD could only pray that Buck learned quick and that Blair's dad was a good teacher
Ezra quietly sat in the back seat, wishing there was some way he could ease the stress throbbing through his leader. From the black expression, he summarized that Chris was thinking about the car bomb that had killed his wife and child. The southerner again marveled at the loyalty Wilmington had shown, staying by Chris' side during the dark days that followed. Ezra never liked being in the line of fire when his leader was ready to explode.
In the van, Nathan sorted through his tools as MacGyver sat holding his satellite phone, swiftly thinking through various options. Sam shifted in his seat, feeling the weight of Standish's backup piece in his pocket. He prayed Blair and Jim were okay while hoping his father didn't notice the gun. Without the same concerns, O'Neill sat next to Sam, openly checking the weapon the sheriff had lent him.
MacGyver glanced at Jack, trying not to look at the gun. "You didn't need to come along. You could have stayed in Ridgway with Daniel."
"Doesn't take two to call the General," Jack replied wryly, closing the gun with a click.
Mac pointed his chin at Jack's cast. "You're still recovering."
"This?" Jack lifted the arm. "This is nothing."
"Jaa-ack."
"Gus, Blair and Jim are consultants for my unit, and thus my responsibility. You and Sam are involved as well. Where else do you think I'd be?"
Mac couldn't help but shake his head. "Thank you."
After staying low and weaving around various rocks, Blair adjusted his backpack as he studied the man by the pole. Deciding the guard didn't look that intelligent, Blair threw a small rock. It hit the metal pole with a loud ping. The militiaman glanced around, trying to identify the sound. With a smirk, Blair threw another rock. This time, the man stepped around to investigate the noise.
Patiently, Blair waited until the man was standing in front of him. Then he stood up and touched the barrel of his borrowed gun against the man's neck. "Put your hands on your head." The militia guard stiffened, then obeyed. Carefully, Blair ordered his prisoner to walk to the gate.
A few moments later, Buck appeared, holding his gun on another militiaman who was helping a limping third. "Look at what I found, Prof."
Blair grinned. "We're collecting quite a set."
The limping man glared back at his captor. "You don't know who you're messing with."
Rolling his eyes, Buck indicated for the man to join Blair's prisoner by the gate. "No, you have no idea who you are messing with." Once in place, Buck asked, "You still got those 'presents' from the deputy?"
"Oh yeah. I've been looking forward to this." Blair stepped forward, holding a couple of pairs of handcuffs. Remembering his treatment while held by the Sun Rise Patriots, the young man thoroughly enjoyed cuffing the men together. By the time he was done, the cuffs were looped through the hefty metal grid work of a nearby meter.
Buck grinned. "I really like your work, Prof."
Blair turned and was about to reply when the gate opened. Both he and Wilmington spun, guns drawn. Vin exited, glancing at the prisoners and nodding his approval. With a wave, he led the other two into the facility.
They met Ellison just inside the fence. Blair studied his partner's face a moment. "We're clear?" he whispered.
Jim shrugged. "I'm sure there's more. Just not sure where."
Blair stepped a little closer, keeping his voice low. "Can you hear heartbeats?"
Jim tilted his head a moment, then shook it. "There's a humming from all the electricity flowing through this place. I feel like I'm next to a mega-watt battery inside a Gameboy."
"Can you filter it out?"
"I can try, but it's as much touch as sound. I'm not sure it'll work."
Nearby, Buck was studying the facility. Huge transformer towers of metal and plastic rose around them. Even Buck could sense the power flowing through the wires. "Okay, if I was a bomb, where would I hide?"
Vin, too, looked around. "Wherever all the electricity's flowing through?"
"Any idea where that might be?"
"Nope."
Buck sighed. "Well, we'd better figure it out quick."
With half an ear on the agents' conversation, Blair continued to think hard. He turned to his partner. "Jim, nix the heartbeats. Can you smell anything?"
Jim tilted his head a little more. After a moment, he answered. "There's a kind of faint chemical smell that's different from everything else."
"That could be the bomb. Let's see if we can find it." Visualizing the scent on the air, Jim stepped forward to track it. Blair followed him deeper into the facility, Buck and Vin right behind them.
When Jim paused, Buck immediately spotted the device. "There it is." Buck stepped forward and knelt before the large case leaning against one of the towers. The agent drew several deep breaths as he cleared his mind and stilled his body. Behind him, Vin watched his partner intently. He had never seen Buck deal with a bomb before, and was impressed by the calm that filled the normally energetic man.
Nearby, Blair checked the open line of his cell phone. "Mac, Blair. We found it." The young detective listened for a moment, nodded, then cautiously called out, "Buck."
Buck held out a hand for the phone. He took it and softly replied, "Wilmington... Yeah, it looks like the others..."
Blair turned back to Jim and Vin as he pulled off his backpack. "Mac said to tell you there was enough missing from the inventory to make five bombs. This is only number four."
Vin's eyes grew wide. "So there could be another one hiding around here?"
Jim grew thoughtful. "Didn't Standish say something about a double failure? That could require two bombs." He patted his partner on the shoulder. "Stay here with Buck — you're our best bet to help him figure out your Dad's improvisations. Vin and I'll go hunting for the other bomb."
Before Vin could follow, Blair grabbed his arm. "Sometimes when Jim focuses too hard on one sense, he can get lost in it," he whispered worriedly. "If he suddenly stops moving and his eyes go blank, shake him." Vin nodded seriously, then trotted after his former C.O.
"... So we start with the motion detector." Buck turned to Blair. "You wouldn't happen to have a screw driver, would you?"
Blair smiled as he pulled out his Swiss Army knife. "Never leave home without one."
"... the third screw is removed, gently pull off the lid..."
The steep mountain canyon was giving way to smooth slopes. Sam glanced at his father, concentrating on his phone, then glanced at O'Neill and Nathan. "How much farther?"
Jack thought a moment. "Probably about ten miles."
Sam frowned. He was worried that Jim and his brother could be captured by militiamen before they reached them. Jack, reading the expression, squeezed the younger man's shoulder.
Suddenly, Josiah slammed on the brakes. Chris' truck had suddenly slid sideways ahead of them. Nathan, steadying MacGyver from the force, looked forward. "What's wrong?" They all winced as the sound of gunfire answered Nathan's question.
Chancing a glance out the window, Sam swore under his breath. "Looks like the guys who chased us from that park."
MacGyver lifted his head from the phone, brow wrinkled. Jack pointed his cast arm at him. "You concentrate on the bomb. We'll take care of this problem."
"Amen, Brother." Josiah carefully popped the driver side door to slide out of the van, Nathan on his heels.
Jack and Sam slipped to the front, Jack silently indicating for Sam to take Josiah's place at the wheel. Jack realized that keeping Mac's connection to the agent with the bomb was the top priority — if they had to retreat to keep his 'twin' safe, so be it.
Josiah and Nathan worked their way to Chris' truck. Four trucks were parked ahead of them, firing at the Ram. Chris, Ezra and JD were taking turns ducking and shooting back at their assailants. "Buck find the bomb yet?" Chris asked tersely as he reloaded.
"Yep." Nathan quickly shot at a grizzly-looking fellow in the winter fatigues who had popped around a green Ford. Dropping back to the ground, he continued, "MacGyver's talking him through now."
JD bit his lip. They had to give the bomb expert time to help Buck. He fired another shot around the bumper.
"We have a plan?" Josiah asked calmly before shooting over the hood.
Chris winced as another series of pings hit his truck. Anger surged as he thought of the repair bill in his future. "Shoot the bastards?"
"Sounds like another game-winning strategy to me," Ezra replied. He, too, was becoming very tired at being shot at. Three more agents and the sheriff joined them from the rest of the caravan.
"What we need is Vin here to shoot the gas tank on one of those junkers," Nathan pointed out.
Lifting an eyebrow, Chris glanced at his youngest agent. "Want to give it a shot, JD?"
JD looked up, surprised. "Sure."
Chris pulled a rifle from out of the truck. JD dropped to the ground, then wiggled underneath until he had a good view of the Ford. Drawing a deep breath, the agent tried to remember all of Vin's advice from the firing range. After taking careful aim and releasing half a breath, he pulled the trigger. The truck suddenly exploded.
"All right!" Nathan exclaimed. The rest of the militiamen raced away from the trucks, holding up their hands.
"Let's clear the road and move it!" Chris ordered.
Jim was trying to be both careful and alert as he and Vin searched the rest of the switching station. Not only was there the possibility of another bomb, but there was still the matter of the bomber. Thankfully, the place wasn't that big. Using Blair's and Buck's voices to ground him, the sentinel used his enhanced sight and smell to search for trouble.
Covering his back, Vin also used his eyes to search. "Shouldn't there be guards or workmen or something around here?"
Checking behind a tower, Jim shook his head. "Most these places are automated."
Vin swiftly swung his gun around a corner. "You know, considering the importance, that's not very smart." He knelt down, studying a suspicious box.
"Just another example on how lax security is in this country. It'll probably take something big before anyone starts taking it seriously." Suddenly, Jim stopped in his tracks, head tilted.
Vin stood up. Remembering Blair's warning, he studied his former C.O worriedly. "Cap'n?"
"...So I finally get to meet the infamous Blair Sandburg..."
"Damn. Someone's found Blair and Buck." Jim turned back to his partner and ran, with Vin on his heels.
Blair scored the glass around the end of a tube. "I didn't understand why Mac wanted us to pick up two straight neon lights, but now it makes sense. What a great way to suck up a powder in a vacuum."
Buck pulled a small piece of gum out of his mouth. "Yeah, especially since one whiff of air can ignite it and set the whole thing off. You should stand back once I start working." Buck paused as he listened to the phone. "Your dad said he's done this before."
Blair shook his head as he handed Buck the tube. "You know, I don't even want to go there."
Buck broke off the end of the tube and swiftly plugged it with the gum. "We can ask later." He turned back to the bomb and began to gingerly ease the tube through the plastic caulking surrounding the case.
Blair took a step back as he followed the expert's advice. "Good thing we had the deputy with us; I doubt the bar owner would have given them to us otherwise." Blair suddenly paused as a soft footstep reached his ear. Pulling the borrowed gun from the waistband of his jeans, he clicked off the safety and held it ready.
"I'm in," Buck reported as he concentrated on his work. "No sign of air seepage. Am popping the gum off now..."
Blair was about ready to write off the noise as a product of a stressed and over-active mind when he heard another noise behind him. The young detective spun, finding himself face to face with another man holding a gun on him. The brown-haired man was trim and lanky, with enough similarity in the face for Blair to realize he was the other Kincaid.
"So I finally get to meet the infamous Blair Sandburg," the man sneered. Behind Blair, Buck's back tightened, but he began to suck up the dangerous powder with the neon tube.
Blair trained his weapon on the man. "Yep, that's me. Who are you?"
"Decker Kincaid. It was my cousin you sent to prison."
"Well, if your cousin hadn't broken several laws and killed people, he wouldn't be in prison."
"Shut up!" The fanatic light in the other man's eyes sent a shiver down Blair's back. "We don't recognize the law of the oppressors. Collaborators like you will be executed once we're in control!"
"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that before," Blair replied as he stayed between Buck and the militia man. "You responsible for the bomb?"
"Bombs." Decker emphasized the plural. "You won't be able to disarm them both in time."
Ah, hell, Dad was right. "Really? Want to drop that gun and time us?"
Before Decker could reply, another voice interjected silkily. "You might live longer that way."
"Let me guess," Decker snarled, "Detective James Ellison?"
"Got it in one," Jim replied. "Now drop the gun before I drop you."
Buck lifted his head from the bomb, catching a shadow on the right.
"Ah, but I can still get one shot off. So I'd drop your gun before I shoot scruffy here."
~BANG~
Both Blair and Kincaid jumped from the loud noise. Buck nonchallantly laid the tube, now empty of its explosive contents, on the floor next to him.
~pft~
Blair blinked as Kincaid fell to the ground, clutching his right shoulder. He glanced back at Buck.
"Powder has been removed from the case," the tall man reported into the phone, smiling at the younger man. "Now pulling off the glass."
"Nice shot, Slick," Jim complimented his friend as he reached down to haul the injured bomber to his feet.
"Buck gave me a sign that he was about to do something, so I was prepared," Vin glared at the suspect.
Blair tossed Jim another pair of handcuffs. "He said there's more bombs."
Jim cuffed the bomber's wrists. "Where's the other one?" When Decker remained silent, Jim shook him.
"Trigger disconnected. Bomb disarmed. Four minutes left on timer. Hang on." Buck turned to the others. "You guys have any luck?"
Trading glares with Decker, Jim shook his head.
Vin snapped his fingers. "I think I might have found something." He quickly led Buck and Blair to the box he had spotted earlier, Jim dragging his prisoner behind them.
Buck knelt down to study it. "How much time?" he asked.
Jim shook the prisoner again. "Not enough," Decker replied smugly.
Blair glanced around the area. "Think you can disable the motion detector quickly?"
Buck looked back. "Sure."
"Then do it." Vin and Jim traded puzzled glances as Blair dashed to a nearby cart. Nodding, Vin raced to the gate while Jim helped Blair maneuver it into place.
"Done." Buck lifted the box up and onto the cart. Together, the three men began pushing the cart. As they picked up speed, Vin pulled open the gate. With one last shove, the cart and its dangerous cargo rolled out onto the empty grassland. It exploded in a roar of flames.
Blair turned back to his partner. Jim was leaning forward, hands rubbing his ears. "You okay?"
"Yeah, fine." Then Jim looked around. "Where did Kincaid go?"
Blair, too, starting looking. "Oh, oh..."
The switching station was in sight when a huge explosion ripped through the air. Chris felt his stomach clench as he pressed on the gas pedal.
"That was outside of the facility," Ezra pointed out, trying to reassure himself as well as his leader.
JD's cell rang. "Hello? ... Chris, Josiah said that MacGyver said that Jim, Buck, and Blair pushed the second bomb outside the station. They're all okay."
Feeling like his heart was finally pumping again, Chris stopped the truck outside the gate where his missing agents had three prisoners lined up. The van pulled up right behind them.
Vin waved. "About time, Cowboy. You've missed all the action." Vin's eyes continued to search the area, hoping to spot the missing bomber.
"I'm not so sure about that." Buck waved at the bullet holes. "Those all from the park?"
"Nah, picked up a few more on the way here." Chris looked at Buck sternly. "I thought you were disarming that bomb, not blowing it up."
Buck chuckled. "There was more than one, and I didn't have enough time for the second. The first should give us plenty of evidence, though."
Chris' eyes narrowed. "Are you limping?"
"I'm fine, Stud."
The word 'fine' tipped the balance. 'Fine' with his team covered everything from sprains to bleeding to death. Chris turned back to the team's medic. "Nathan!"
Behind them, Sam was greeting his brother with a hug. "Man, Indy, I've been worried about you."
"Same here, Olsen."
"Where's Jim?"
"Tracking down one more terrorist."
Before Sam could reply, a gunshot rang out. MacGyver was standing still, hands raised, as Kincaid pointed his weapon at him. Inspite of the blood on his shoulder, the gun remained steady. "Everyone just stand still!" Decker shouted. "Mr. Fillmore and I are just going to take a little trip."
"You sure you've got the right man?" Jack O'Neill stood on the other side of Chris' truck, glaring at the bomber.
As Decker hesitated in confusion, Jim rose from behind a shed and tackled him. They rolled in the yellow dirt, clouds rising into the air. Finally, Jim kneed Decker in the stomach, forcing the militiaman to drop the gun. One solid punch to the face, and Decker Kincaid was out for the count.
"Nice work, Detective Ellison," Ezra complimented him as he handed over his handcuffs. Jim acknowledged him with a smile as he finished securing the new prisoner.
Mac gave him a hand up. "You okay?"
"Yeah."
Blair and Sam ran up. "Jim? Dad?" Sam asked breathlessly.
"Fine." MacGyver stared at his sons and Jim. "Can't you three go anywhere without getting into trouble?"
"Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" Sam returned.
"Yeah," Blair added. "Remember Wyoming?"
"San Francisco," Jim included.
"Chicago," Blair continued.
"Nah, Chief, that was just Sam," Jim corrected. "Mac didn't make Chicago because of Wyoming."
"Oh yeah, Wyoming." Blair lifted an eyebrow at his father.
Mac rolled his eyes. "Those are beside the point. What do you three have to say for yourselves this time?"
Sam glanced at his brother and Jim before offering, "Ah, Happy Birthday?"
Mac couldn't stop the laugh that burst out of him. Joyously, he pulled both sons in for hugs.
The small cabin was crowded. Mac briefly reflected that the place had never seen so many people. He flashed a smile at his grandfather's picture, hoping the old man wouldn't have minded. Considering how grateful MacGyver was that his family and friends were safe, it was probably one of the best birthday parties he had ever had. He glanced around at the various groups.
Blair was sitting next to the fire with Daniel, Josiah, Nathan and JD. The three former anthropologists were telling stories about their adventures to the others. JD's eyes were huge, soaking up the tales.
In the kitchen, Jim was swapping military stories with Jack, Chris and Vin. Mac rarely saw Jim so relaxed. Buck had just joined them, refilling his bowl of Blair's chili. Earlier, Mac had enjoyed talking with the younger man. Buck's enthusiasm was contagious.
Then in the corner behind the couch, Sam and Ezra were talking. With a smile, Mac walked over to hear what was going on.
"... latest Clinton scandal." Sam waved his arms. "Even if I was on the U.S. political beat, the man's out of office. Who cares what he's doing? It's not going to change anything if I'm scrounging around for dirt on him in Israel. You wouldn't believe what I had to go through to stay on the India earthquake."
Ezra shook his head. "I do not envy you your position. Your skills are being wasted with such trite."
Sam swirled his glass, staring at the punch. "Yeah. I'm really thinking it may be time to switch jobs."
The dejection in Sam's voice caught Blair's attention. The guide turned his head towards his brother. "Switch jobs? You thinking about going back to being a stringer?"
"Maybe." Sam shrugged his shoulders. "Though I'm really getting disgusted with the state of journalism in general lately. I want to make a difference; instead, I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle against tabloid reporting."
"Have you ever considered a job in law enforcement?" Ezra asked. "You already have many of the talents and skills required for an outstanding ATF agent."
"Really?" Sam asked, his face lighting up with the compliment. Behind him, Mac's eyes grew wide.
Also picking up on the conversation, Chris turned. "Definitely. Just contact me when you're ready, and I can get you set up."
Seeing the look of panic on his father's face, Blair held back a smirk as he caught his partner's mirthful eyes. To keep from laughing, he stood up and walked over to the table. "Hey Mac, think you can postpone your heart attack long enough to blow out some candles?"
Realizing was his brother was doing, Sam joined him. Looking over the cake, he asked, "Should I grab the fire extinguisher?"
Mac gave his younger son a mock glare. "Just you wait; your day is coming."
Unperturbed, Sam grinned as Blair lit the candles. As everyone gathered around, Mac took a deep breath, paused, then blew out the flames.
"What did you wish for, Dad?" Sam asked.
Mac wrapped an arm around each of his sons. "Nothing. Everything I want is right here."
The End
[Top | Part One | Part Two | Part Three | ]
Author's note, 2/3/02: Finally! I didn't think I was ever going to get this one done! Not sure what I'm working on next, but hopefully it won't take as long. Thank you all who wrote me mdash; I appreciate hearing from you.
Cindy
Okay, one of the things that gradually comes to light in my TS/MacGyver series is that MacGyver (played by Richard Dean Anderson) is Blair's father. Back when Mac was college student on break with his friend, Jack Dalton, he met a beautiful flower child called Naomi Sandburg (Blair's mother). They had a whirlwind, three day affair that ended when they had a major argument over Timothy Leary, Viet Nam, and college (as discussed in Ares Bugle/Heirs to a Nightmare). Later, Naomi wasn't sure exactly who fathered Blair and was still too furious with Mac to acknowledge he was a good possibility. When she later saw an 'Albert MacGyver' on the killed-in-action lists, she assumed that was her Mac and decided to never tell Blair.
Then nearly three decades later, MacGyver was paying a visit to a former student, Joel Taggart, when Blair was abducted by a mad bomber. He aided Jim Ellison in rescuing Blair in the tunnels under Rainier's campus (The Maze). While recruiting Blair for the think tank, The Phoenix Foundation, MacGyver does a background check on him (Control). This leads to the discovery that Blair's mother is Naomi. Simple math indicates the timing would be right for he to be Blair's father. However, Mac is reluctant to pursue the matter further. The threat of a former enemy attempting revenge on him by going after his other son, Sam (Sean A. Malloy, introduced in the last episode of the MacGyver series and was played by Dalton James) already weighed heavy on Mac. He feared he would place Blair in the same danger if he acknowledge him as his son. The fact that MacGyver had recently spotted his 'always presumed dead but never is' nemesis Murdoc in several pictures Sam had taken in Europe only strengthen his resolve (Coatlicue).
However, MacGyver never took into account the abilities of a Sentinel nose. Jim realized that a person's unique scent is similar to others related by blood, leading to the discovery that Mac and Sam's scents are very close to Blair's (Coatlicue). Jim confronts MacGyver (Ares Bugle), and gives him an ultimatum - tell Blair himself in six weeks (after Blair had recovered from the events in Ares Bugle) or Jim would. But before the end of the grace period, Sam and Blair are targeted by Murdoc (Heirs to a Nightmare) and the truth comes out. After a talk with Naomi, Blair and MacGyver discuss the matter and Blair is welcomed into the MacGyver family.