Note: Okay, folks, this is the final chapter. Hope you enjoy. The spelling mistakes in Katie's letter are deliberate. She *is* only nine after all.

Chapter 7

'All right everybody, listen up,' Mac said, standing in front of the small group of officers selected for the operation. Adam had traced Todd's phone to an abandoned warehouse in Queens. Mac and the others stood in the parking lot out front of the dilapidated, building. They had reached the building about ten minutes after Todd. No gunfire had been heard, so it seemed Todd had Walsh somewhere inside.

'We have one armed individual, a Marine. If he shoots, he's not going to miss. On the other hand, this is a kid who just lost his mother and is confronting the person responsible for that. So no one shoots unless it is absolutely, and I mean absolutely necessary, that is if the life of a civilian or another officer is in imminent danger. Is that clear?'

Around him, the silent men and women nodded. Mac had their complete attention and none took their eyes off him.

'Good. Johnson, where are Malone and Walsh?'

Sam Johnson, part of HRT, pointed to his laptop screen.

'Two heat signatures on the first floor, room to the rear of the building facing east. I've got a sniper on a rooftop opposite. He just called in to say he has a clear visual. Malone is armed with a handgun which he is pointing at Walsh. They're about two feet apart. If Malone shoots, he sure isn't gonna miss, especially not with his training. Walsh appears to be unarmed. But he might have a knife or a weapon hidden.'

'He might,' Mac agreed, 'But if Todd is thinking straight, he'd have forced Walsh to give up any weapons. Problem is, I'm not sure he *is* thinking straight.' Mac paused. 'Tell your sniper what I just told everyone else. He's not to shoot unless it's absolutely necessary,'

'Got it,' Johnson said, and relayed the order over the radio.

Mac felt fear settle in the pit of his stomach, the same fear he'd felt countless times before a mission in the Marines or in situations like this one as a cop. He didn't feel fear for himself, but for those under his command. He didn't think Todd would shoot at police, but he had no idea how far the young man's grief and anger had pushed him. Mac also knew that if Todd took even one shot, even if he missed, the sniper would shoot him. Mac didn't want to responsible for any deaths today, not the deaths of his fellow officers, or Todd, or even of Walsh. Walsh was a scumbag, but Mac didn't want to see Todd go to prison for killing him. The heavy weight of responsibility pressed down on Mac's shoulders as he looked around the group of officers who were preparing to either fan out around the building or enter along with Mac and Flack. He rubbed his hand over his eyes and rested his hand momentarily on the butt of his weapon. Despite his heavy bulletproof vest, he felt the harsh November cold bite at him and chill him through.

'Hey, buddy, you okay?' Don said, as he came towards him adjusting his own vest.

Mac sighed out a breath, trying to ease his tension.

'I just don't want this to go wrong, Don,' he said, 'I've seen too many supposedly simple situations go wrong, and people always get hurt.'

Don nodded. He understood that Mac was referring not only to things he'd experienced as a cop, but as a Marine too. He also understood, and shared Mac's fear, he too had seen such situations go horribly wrong, resulting in innocent people or good officers ending up dead. But he also knew that it was with Mac, as the one in charge of this operation, that the ultimate responsibility lay. Added to that, Don knew, was the fact that Mac cared a lot for Todd Malone and felt responsible for him and his sister. If Todd killed Walsh, or got himself killed, Mac would blame himself, Don knew. He looked at his friend's face, drawn with anxiety and tiredness, and felt a surge of respect for him. He knew in that instant that however dangerous this situation might turn out to be, he would follow Mac into that building. Glancing behind him at the two officers who had been selected to enter the building with them, he saw them watching Mac with a quiet respect. If they were nervous, they didn't show it, likely taking their cue from Mac. You'd have to know him well, as well as Don did, to know how worried his was about this standoff.

'Malone trusts you, Mac,' Don said, 'If anyone can get him to hand over his weapon, it's you.'

Mac nodded.

'I hope you're right, Don,' he said.

His radio crackled and Johnson informed him that his team was in place around the building with all exits covered.

Mac acknowledged him, then signaled over the two remaining officers, Hansen and Blackwell. Spreading out a blueprint of the building, he laid out his plan.

'Okay, we enter at this main door here. Blackwell, you stay on the ground floor. Hansen, you come up the stairs with Detective Flack and me, and cover the floor outside in case one of them gets past Don and I and makes a run for it. Don, you and I will enter the room where Todd and Walsh are. I'm going to try and get Todd to hand his weapon over. I need you to cover me.'

'Got it,' Don said, and Hansen and Blackwell nodded.

'All right,' said Mac. 'Let's go,'

Drawing his weapon and holding it low, he led the others across the parking lot out front of the warehouse, Don at his side.

They reached the main entrance. Don and Mac took up positions on either side, while Blackwell shouldered open the door, covered by the other three.

The ground floor was clear, and Blackwell took his position. Hansen, Mac, and Flack ran as quickly and silently as possible up to the first floor, and to the rear of the building. Hansen took his position, and then Mac and Flack stood on either side of the doorway to the room where Todd was with Walsh.

Mac took a breath.

'Todd,' he called through the door, 'It's Mac. Can my partner and I come in?'

'Mac?' Todd called, sounding puzzled for a second, then 'You've got the place surrounded, right?'

'That's right.'

'Got a sniper on me?'

'Yes. But if you play this right, Todd, he won't shoot.'

Silence for a few long moments. Mac tensed, hoping like hell he wouldn't hear a shot.

Then,

'You can come in. Just you. I guess you have someone with you. You can leave the door open, but they stay outside. I only want you in here. I'm not going to shoot you, Mac, I swear. I'm no threat to you. I just want to make this bastard pay.'

Mac and Flack and Hansen exchanged glances. Hansen and Flack looked concerned, but Mac felt no fear for himself. He knew Todd wouldn't shoot him. What scared Mac was the knowledge that Todd could shoot Walsh, which would result in him being shot by the sniper, and ultimately going to prison, which would leave Katie without any family, and leave a good man in prison, his life destroyed.

Mac nodded at Hansen and Flack.

'I'm coming in now, Todd,' he said, and slowly pushed the door open.

He found himself in a large room. To his left stood Todd, a Smith and Wesson in his hand, aimed at Eddie Walsh. In the photos Mac had seen of Walsh, the young wannabe-gang-banger had worn a tough look accentuated by a cocky sneer. Mac saw none of that now. Eddie Walsh was on his knees, crying, snot and tears running down his face.

'Oh God, don't kill me, please man, don't kill me,' he begged, his voice high-pitched and desperate. Not a trace remained of the tough, cocky, kid that came across in his file and that his friends had described. Eddie Walsh had been a drug runner, had been involved in fights, had robbed and killed Jenna Malone, but now he was nothing but a scared kid. As Mac, keeping his gun low, moved to Todd's side, he saw Walsh had wet his pants. Mac felt no pity for the kid, only disgust for what he had done.

'Todd, listen to me, you need to put the gun down,'

Todd shook his head. His eyes were filled with tears and he looked exhausted, like he was about to collapse. But the gun, pointing straight at Eddie's sobbing face, was rock steady. Mac knew that if he couldn't persuade Todd to put the gun down, he would shoot, and he would not miss. But Todd hadn't shot Eddie yet. Something in him was holding back, and Mac knew it was that part of Todd he had to reach.

'He fucking deserves to die,' Todd said.

'I know,' Mac said softly, 'I know that's how you feel, but you can't do this, Todd.'

'Why not?'

'You're a Marine, Todd. Marines don't shoot unarmed civilians.'

'Civilian?' Todd sneered, his voice shaking 'He's a goddamned murderer, drug runner and crook. He's no 'civilian' '. His grip tightened on the gun.

'Katie,' Mac said, and Todd looked at him for the first time.

'Katie,' Mac repeated, 'Before we came out here, Todd, Katie asked me to help you. She asked me to save you and not let you do anything bad. That little girl loves you, Todd, and she needs you. If you kill this scumbag, you will go to prison, and what will Katie do then? Do you want her to have to visit you every week in prison? To have to talk to you through a glass screen? You're the only family Katie has left, Todd, and she needs you. She's your responsibility now.'

'Katie,' Todd said softly, and a tear trickled down his cheek. The gun wavered just a little, still aimed at Eddie, but not quite as firmly as before.

'I'm going to get something out of my pocket, okay?' Mac said. Todd nodded, and with his free hand, Mac took a plastic evidence bag out of his pocket. He held it up so Todd could see the photo inside. It was Jenna's photo of her, Todd and Katie.

'Look at them, Todd,' he said softly, 'Look at Katie, look at your mom. Look how proud your mom looks of you. Do you think she'd want this?'

The gun wavered again, and more tears fell from Todd's eyes.

He shook his head.

'She wouldn't want you to throw everything you have away over this piece of shit,' Mac said, indicating Eddie, who all this time had continued begging for his life. 'And Katie. Look at her, Todd.'

Todd looked at the photo again.

'She needs you. She's a little girl who needs her big brother. If you kill him, Todd, you'll let her down. Don't do that. Please, don't do that.'

Todd swallowed hard. He lifted the gun back up so it was aimed directly at Eddie's face again. Eddie screamed, 'No man, no! Please!'

'I hope you go to prison and I hope you rot there, you motherfucker,' Todd said, coldly, 'I hope you suffer for the rest of your life. You deserve to die. But I won't kill you.' Todd sneered again, 'You're not worth it, you pathetic little shit. Now put your hands behind your head so that he can cuff you.'

Eddie, bursting into loud sobs, did so. Todd kept the gun on him, but aimed at his knee, making it silently clear that he wasn't going to kill him, but would shoot him if he tried anything. Mac cuffed Eddie, and said,

'Give me the weapon now, Todd.'

Todd nodded. Mac, leaving Eddie sobbing and cuffed on the floor, moved the two feet to Todd and took the gun the young Marine held out without resistance. As soon as he had it, he radioed for the cops surrounding the building to stand down. Flack and Hansen entered and Hansen took Todd's weapon while Flack helped up Eddie and led him out. He met Mac's eyes as he left, and smiled a little. Mac smiled back and held up his hand to signal that he would be a while. Flack nodded and left.

Mac and Todd were alone in the room.

As Mac turned back to Todd, the young man collapsed to his knees, tears pouring down his face, his entire body shaking. All the anger of before was gone, and he seemed only shocked and lost and scared.

Mac knelt by him and Todd leaned into his shoulder sobbing.

'Shit, Mac, I nearly killed him, I nearly killed him.'

'It's okay, Todd. You didn't kill him.'

Mac put one arm round Todd and held him as he cried. Eventually, his tears eased off, and he pulled back from Mac, rubbing at his eyes. Mac helped him stand.

'Thank you,' Todd said softly, his voice still shaking, 'Thank you for coming for me.'

Mac just nodded.

'I want to see Katie,' Todd said, 'and Kara. Can we go see them?'

'Of course,' Mac said, 'You did the right thing for Katie today, Todd, and for yourself. Whatever happens with Walsh, you should know that.'

Todd nodded, wiping at his eyes, and together he and Mac left the warehouse. Mac felt relief flood him. This time, at least, everyone was coming out of the situation alive.

xxxx

A week later.

Eddie Walsh was in jail awaiting trial. Despite the attempts of his lawyer, the young thug would be facing a charge of murder.

It was early evening and Mac was heading over to the Medical Examiner's office when he met Todd, Kara, and Katie outside the lab.

'Mac!' said Katie happily, running to him and hugging him.

'Hey, Katie,' Mac said gently, returning the hug.

'We were just coming to see you,' Katie said, 'I wrote you this,' she handed him a piece of paper.

'Can I read it now?'

'No, you have to save it for later,' she ordered. Mac chuckled.

'Okay, if you say so.' he said.

She grinned at him.

Mac stood as Todd and Kara reached him. Kara hugged him.

'Thank you,' she whispered into his ear.

'You're welcome,' Mac said, not entirely sure what she was thanking him for.

'For looking for Todd and Katie,' Kara added as if understanding his uncertainty.

'Thanks, Mac,' Todd said, offering his hand, which Mac shook. 'I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. Thank you, for everything. It means a lot.'

His eyes locked with Mac's, and Mac was touched at the sincerity he saw there.

'You're welcome, Todd. You're a fine young man, with a wonderful family,' he indicated Kara and Katie. 'Your mom would be proud.'

'I know,' Todd said softly.

They talked for a while longer, Todd explaining that he and Katie would be moving in with Kara, and that he had applied to join the NYPD. Mac smiled, he suspected Todd would make an excellent cop.

Todd, Kara and Katie left, Katie waving goodbye until they disappeared from sight. Mac watched them go, smiling. He opened Katie's letter. It read:

'Dear Mac,

Thank you for being so nice and understanding to me and not treating me like a little kid. Thank you for helping me and for helping Todd. I wish I could give you something to show how gratefull I am to you, but I can't think of anything. But I do think that you are a very nice man, and also that you are very lonely. You are too nice to be lonely. I feel lonely without my Mom, so does Todd, but we have each other, and Todd has Kara. He is like crazy in love with her. So I think you should have someone like that. I think you should have a girlfriend. I know you loved your wife, Claire, loads and loads and loads, and that you are so sad and lonely now she's gone, like I am about my Mom. But you desserve to be happy. You should have a girlfriend. Kissing and stuff is icky, I think, but a girlfriend can be there for you when you are sad and make things better. I hope you will find a nice pretty lady to be your girlfriend and make you not be lonely anymore.

Love from your friend,

Katie. xxxxxxx.

Mac smiled. Katie was right, and the letter settled his doubts about what he was about to do.

xxxx

Mac tapped lightly on the doorframe as he entered.

Jane looked up from Giles' desk, where she was sorting a mountain of files into a box by her feet.

She looked a little tired, and a few strands of her blonde hair had fallen forward across her face, which, Mac thought, made her look even prettier.

'Mac,' she said warmly, smiling at him.

He smiled back.

'You look a little tired, Jane,' he said.

'I can't believe Leonard made such a mess of his desk again. I only tidied it the other day. Anyway, what can I do for you, Mac?' she asked, brushing the loose strands of hair back behind her ears.

Mac hesitated for a second, then said,

'I...do you like pizza?'

Jane looked a little surprised.

'Yes,' she said, 'Especially the ones with lots of toppings.'

'Would you...would you like to go for one now? I know a great little place. I think you'd love it,'

In the few seconds it took her to answer, Mac felt more nervous and unsure of himself than he had in a long time.

'Just us?' Jane said, and Mac saw a pleased glitter in her eyes that made him smile.

'Yes. Just us.'

'Like a date?' she asked, her tone playful, flirty, and a little nervous too.

Mac felt a slight blush warm his cheeks, but his smile widened.

'Yes, like a date,' he said, softly.

Jane's eyes lit up, and she grinned at him.

'I'd love to,' she said.

Mac couldn't help himself as he grinned at her.

She stood and grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair. Together they left the building. As they stepped out into the street, the cold November wind gusted at them. Mac felt it's chill on the tips of his ears and fingers. But he found he didn't care. The cold, the darkness of the case he and the team had just solved, the responsibilities that awaited him back at the lab - in this instant, none of it mattered to Mac. Not right now.

The End.