They had loaded the last of the gear, and Riley stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking somewhat wistfully back up at the house. Steve waited for her patiently by the Jeep.

"We'll be back soon," he promised, as she finally turned and walked toward him.

"Catherine and Joe made it back to Pearl okay?" she asked, as they climbed inside.

Steve turned the ignition as she fastened her seatbelt.

"Yeah, they're setting up an intel unit, tasked with identifying and locating these people, these so-called 'elders'," he said. "We'll root them out, Riley, it's what we do. This is the beginning of a whole new life for you, Riley, I promise. You're safe now. These people aren't going to touch you, and we're going to find them, and put a stop to all of this. And we'll get the best, the very best scientists and doctors . . . you're going to have the life you deserve."

"Thank you," she said, her eyes filling with tears. "I never thought . . . I can't believe I have a family."

"Ohana. Believe it. All of us - me and Mary, of course, but the whole team. And your friend Jerry, and Rebecca . . ."

Riley smiled. "She's been invited to Danny's for the weekend. Gracie is with her mom."

"That's - oh. Well, that's very nice," Steve said, grinning back at her.

Riley fidgeted with her phone for a while, turning to Steve as if she was going to say something, and then turning back. He let her squirm for a bit before sighing and rubbing a hand over his face.

"I know about your date with Charlie," he said, finally.

She looked at him in surprise, then suspicion.

"He asked me," Steve said quickly. "He asked me if he could take you out."

She opened and closed her mouth a few times. She wasn't sure how to feel. Insulted? Protected? Frustrated?

"Riley," Steve laughed. "Come on. Charlie's in a bit of a rough spot."

"You are very intimidating," Riley said.

"Me? Are you shitting me? Okay, I'm a bit of an overprotective big brother -"

"No, really?"

"But to be honest, I think he's more than a little intimidated by you," Steve continued. He smiled at her fondly.

"Because I'm a science experiment," Riley mumbled.

"No. Because you're strong, and smart, and beautiful, you got that? Don't forget that, Riley, don't ever doubt yourself," Steve said. He nodded firmly at Riley, making sure she let his words sink in. He waited until she smiled and nodded back at him.

"And the baby sister of a badass Navy SEAL, and don't you forget that, either."

#*#*#*#*#

A/N: This is the end, for now! There may be a sequel, in the future. Thank you so much for all of the support and enthusiasm for this story.

A McDanno version of this same story may be in the works, as well. We'll see where the muse takes me next.