AN: Gasp! What's this? An actual story with and actual plot? I think it is!

All right, so here's how this story is going to work: at the beginning of each chapter, including this one, I will put a short flashback of sorts; just to help you guys understand what happened. To an extent, at least. I don't want to give everything away. Where's the fun in that? Anyway, the flashbacks won't necessarily go in order. That'll be up to you to figure out.

Full Summary:

Set a few months after the Volume 5 Finale. It's been thirty years since Natara was transferred back to Miami. Twenty-five years since Mal remarried. Fifteen years since Captain Yeong stepped down and Mal was named Captain. Two years since Mal's son, Jared, joined the force. Two weeks since Jared made Senior Detective. One week since a new Junior detective was transferred in from Miami and was partnered with Jared. And Mal can't help but notice that she bears a striking resemblance to his old partner...

"Gone? What do you mean she's gone?" Mal demanded, lurching to his feet. His hands gripped Captain Yeong's desk firmly.

"Special Agent Williams came to me and informed me that she thought it would be best for her to go back to Miami." Mal let go of his death grip on the desk and paced the length of the room. He refused to believe that Natara was actually gone. Ever since that night just a few weeks ago... They'd pretended it had never happened. They'd avoided it in conversation and didn't tell anyone else.

"Moving on to more pressing matters, I'd like you to take on the Jennings case. The killer has very precise methods..."

"I'm sorry, but I just don't think you're ready for this."

"Bull crap. I've been a detective for five more years than you have, not to mention that I'm five years older than you. I know for a fact that I am more than ready. Quit pulling rank on me."

Mal huffed and rolled his eyes as he listened to his son and his new partner bickering. They'd only been working together for a week, and he was already sick of their constant arguing.

"Oh, please. If I'm not allowed to pull rank then you're not allowed to play the age card. Either way, you're not taking lead on this case, Malia."

"And I'm sure that if you don't get what your way, you'll go running to your daddy and cry and snivel until you get what you want."

"Fallon! Blackwell! My office. Now," Mal barked at them. The pair shuffled into the room, glancing nervously at each other. They took a seat in front of Mal's desk, taking in his stoic expression. Jared knew very well what that meant; he'd grown up seeing that same expression when he misbehaved. Mal slid a picture of a portly man across his desk for the two detectives to see. The man was decked out from head to toe in camouflage, grinning as he held up the head of a dead buck.

"Marvin Alexander, a DA who has managed to put away many, many criminals. His wife reported him missing this morning."

"But Dad, we're supposed to be leaving for that detectives' retreat in two days, not to mention that we're already working the Connelly case. Hey, speaking of which, who do you think- ow! Hey!" Jared broke off as Malia jabbed her elbow into his ribs. Jared glowered at her before turning back to his father.

"The Connelly case will be reassigned to Detective Schmitt. Mayor Seth Holland," Mal ground out between his teeth, as if it pained him to say it, "urged me to put my best detectives on this case. Unfortunately that means the two of you. I suggest you start by talking to his wife and then moving from there." The phone on Mal's desk rang. As Mal reached over to answer it, Malia and Jared began arguing over who would take lead again. Jared noticed his father's face grow dark and he sat up straighter in his chair, his interest piqued.

"Yes, of course. I'll send them right over." Mal hung up the phone. "Ignore what I said before. Let's go. Detective Greene is waiting for us at the marina."

Later:

Malia shifted uncomfortably as the white sheet covering the body was peeled back. Mal's eyebrows knit together and he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'll be damned," Jared said softly. He knelt next to the body, studying it closely. The man was bloated and soaked from being in the water, but there was no mistaking who it was. He was dressed in camouflage and there was a branch as thick as Jared's wrist protruding from his chest. His dead eyes stared blankly skyward.

"John Doe. Washed up sometime last night or early this morning. An elderly couple found him tangled in a net. Most likely killed by that stick in his chest. We'd need to do a full autopsy to know if he simply fell on it or if he was stabbed." Ken shook his head. "This guy must've been in the water for days. There's no evidence on him; no fingerprints, DNA, nothing. My guess is that it all got washed away."

"He's no John Doe," Malia interjected. "His name's Marvin Alexander, and he's a DA at the local firm. His wife just reported him missing this morning." Mal grabbed the two younger detectives and dragged them a few feet away from the body.

"Find the person who did this," he growled. "And do it fast. I want this guy behind bars before the two of you have to leave for that retreat. I'm sure that between the two of you, you'll figure something out." Mal brushed past them and stomped over to his car. Jared sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"I guess we might as well start with his wife."

Malia nodded absently. "Agreed."

So. How's that for a start, huh?