PART FOUR

Outside the airport, Steve pulls the tac vest over his head, but is fumbling with the side straps when Danny steps up wordlessly to help. He tugs the vest into place and secures the Velcro straps across Steve's chest. When Steve winces slightly, Danny pauses.

"Are you going to be okay," he questions quietly, laying a hand on Steve's arm. "Physically and … otherwise?" Danny waves a hand indicating Steve's casted arm and his bruised body.

"Yeah, I'll be fine Danno," Steve tries for a smile that falls a bit flat. The use of the nickname, however, eases some of the worry in Danny's chest.

"All right. I trust you. If you need to-"

"I will." Steve interrupts him. "Promise."

Danny nods and gives the vest a little tug, making sure it's on properly before he reaches down and picks up Steve's rifle. He knows Steve can probably still fieldstrip a weapon faster than him even with one arm in a cast, but Danny checks it for him anyway before handing it over. Steve accepts it with a small smile on his face before he turns to face Chin and Kono.

"Let's do this."

They sweep through the airport fast, flashing badges as they push through crowds. At the security gates, they meet up with a TSA officer who ushers them around the metal detectors and jogs with them through the airport until they reach the gate.

"Flight 376 to Dallas," he reiterates, waving towards the flight board that shows the flight as departing. "All passengers are boarded and accounted for. The flight crews and pilots have been informed, but the rest of the passengers think they are waiting for a storm to blow over. The passengers you are looking for in 36E, 36F, and 42 B."

"Thank you," Danny utters to the officer when Steve remains silent.

The officer nods and opens the security door to the boarding tunnel. The team stacks up behind Steve and they make their way down the tunnel, guns raised. When they reach the last bend before the plane's door, Steve holds up his hand for them to stop. Slowly he eases around the corner and finds the co-pilot waiting for them. The co-pilot gives the door a tug and it opens the rest of the way. Steve waves the team on as he quickly boards the plane.

All the passengers start to gasp as they board, staring with wide-eyes at them as they pass. Chin and Kono take one aisle while Danny and Steve go down the other, eyes scanning the faces as well as the seat numbers. As they near the 30s, Steve catches sight of a woman sitting with her head facing down and a man with a blanket pulled partially over his face as if he were asleep. Steve motions to his team and they converge on the couple. Steve grabs the man's arm while Kono grabs the woman.

"Hey! What the hell?!" The man protests, but Steve is knocking his hat off and spinning the man to face him. The man's eyes widen when he takes in Steve's face.

"Thomas VanHorn, you are under arrest," Steve declares as Danny slips the handcuffs over the man's wrist.

A man stands up from the seat in front of them and flashes an Air Marshal badge at Steve. Steve quickly hands Tommy over to the Marshal and only spares a moment to assure Chin and Kono have their suspect in custody before he and Danny move on. As they start heading towards the back of the plane, a man quickly jumps from his seat, climbing over the lap of another passenger as he tries to get out of the way.

Steve picks up the pace, lowering his gun in favor of kicking out a leg as he nears the scrambling suspect. The man hits the ground hard, groaning in protest as Steve quickly hauls him to his feet. It only takes one look at the man to know he's their third suspect.

"Scott Monroe, you are under arrest," Steve wrestles the guy's arm up behind his back and marches him back down the aisle where he meets up with Danny and another Air Marshal.

Danny quickly cuffs the man before handing him off to the Marshal. The two Marshals head off the plane first. When Chin and Kono start to head out, Steve stops them, intercepting Natalie. She just smirks up at Steve.

"Good luck making it stick," Natalie whispers, eyes glinting.

Steve hesitates for a moment before he starts to pat her down. She starts to protest until Steve's eyes land on the chain around her neck. Steve grasps the chain and gives it a tug. The chain snaps and comes free in his hand. As he pulls it, the end slips out from beneath her shirt revealing a small USB drive.

"This will make it stick," Steve states coldly, bagging the chain and the drive, slipping it in his pocket. "He has more dirt on you and your company than you ever realized." With that, he gives her a nudge and marches her off the plane.

Steve glances at the mirror one last time, straightening his tie and smoothing the lapels of his jacket. He wiggles his fingers in the cast and tugs the sleeve down around it. It's a tight fit, and may take him a while to work his arm back out of the sleeve, but it works. There is not much he can do about the fading bruises or the stitches; it's as good as it's going to get. Sighing, Steve steps away from the mirror and picks his dress hat off the counter.

Steve makes his way out of the small hotel bathroom, palming his keys and heading out the door. He can feel eyes on him as he makes his way through the lobby. He wishes now that he had accepted Danny's offer to stay with him, if only to avoid this, the curious eyes of sunburned travellers. When he reaches his truck, Steve slides in behind the wheel and takes a deep breath. Sliding on his sunglasses, Steve pulls out and heads towards the cemetery.

Jacks didn't have any family left to bury him, so Steve was not expecting much of a crowd for his funeral. As he parks his truck, Steve is awed at the sea of uniforms around the gravesite. Slipping the hat on his head, Steve gets out of the truck and makes his way across grass. As he nears the crowd, Steve is stunned to see three individuals standing off from the crowd, still dressed in uniform, but not military style. He doesn't need them to turn around to know who they are. A warm feeling fills his chest as he makes his way towards them.

Danny spots him first, turning around and giving him a small wave. Steve comes to a stop in front of them. He hasn't seen much of them since making the arrests. He's spent the last three days arranging the funeral, giving statements to the DA, and arranging to have his house cleaned up once again. Despite leaving the hospital AMA and making the arrests, the governor has still put him 10 days of medical leave.

"Come here, your tie is crooked," Danny says by way of greeting. Steve knows it's not, he checked it before he left, but he steps up to Danny anyway. Danny makes a fuss of straightening his tie and lapels, but its all for show. His eyes are fixed on Steve's the whole time. "How're you holding up?"

"I'm fine, Danny," he replies. When Danny just gives him a look, Steve tries again. "Really, I'm okay." He offers up a half smile, which must appease Danny because he steps back.

"How's the case going?"

"Closed," Chin states simply. "Jacks did a good job of collecting intel on his employer. He built a solid case against them. We've turned over the information to the FBI, it's their case now."

"We closed Jacks' case," Kono adds, knowing that Steve needs to hear it. "Natalie is being charged with the murder, but the other two are being charged with manslaughter. They are also being charged with counts of aggravated assault in your case."
Steve nods and sighs. "Is there enough to convict them of the murder?"

"Ample," Danny answers firmly. "Especially when one of the guys rolled on the whole operation. They're not getting out of it."

"Good," Steve nods. They were able to bring Jacks justice and bring down the operation that had taken his life. Looking at his team, Steve wishes he had the words to thank them properly, to let them know how much he appreciates what they have done for him, for Jacks. When he looks in their eyes, though, Steve thinks they might just know it anyway. It's not perfect, but it's enough.

End.