Chapter Nine

Now that G-Force had started talking to each other, the impromptu sessions were more relaxed. Benson had glimpses into the team's personalities that weren't entirely related to the assault on Anderson.

They started talking about renewing their usual activities, then Tiny put actions to words.

He decided to visit the Harpers. He hadn't wanted to, before. His former foster-family were good people, and he'd worried that their well-meant attempts at comfort would anger him.

"They aren't cruel," he told Benson, "just thoughtless sometimes. You know, while trying to cheer a widow or widower up, they'd probably ask about plans for the future. About what happened to the Chief, they wouldn't know what to say and talk around the subject. I didn't think I could take it."

"I understand." He must like them if he used their name. "I'm sure they do, even if they don't seem to."

"I've been away long enough," he said. "Thanks, Olivia."

"You're welcome. Enjoy yourself. That's my professional recommendation."

He grinned and gave her a quick hug before boarding the sub.


Captain Jack Harper met Tiny at the train station. "How long are you staying this time?" he asked, as if nothing were wrong.

"Three days. Duty calls."

"You can get a lot done in three days. How've you been?"

"I'm doing better."

"I've told everyone not to bug you with questions. I thought you had enough on your plate without that."

"Thank you."

"If you need anything, you just ask."

"Well, how about some of Ma's cooking?"


The ordinariness of the lunch conversation, as they discussed the business of fishing and the changes they would have to make to maintain the fisheries, was a balm for Tiny. After weeks of worry (about the Chief, about himself and his teammates, about Spectra), he could finally relax.

Oh, they had questions, he could see that. It was an effort for them to not talk around his problems. Tommy was young enough to be more concerned with grade school and his friends than anything else, so he provided an easy out for Tiny.

After lunch, he helped out on Jack's boats.


After Tiny returned, Jason entered two races and won both handily. The second race was televised on a cable channel, allowing everyone at Center Neptune to watch. When his car appeared on the screen, Benson recognized it from racing magazines she saw at the station. Well. People watched a member of G-Force in action and never knew it.

Viewer enthusiasm was infectious. By the time #2 crossed the finish line, she and Huang were cheering as loudly as Jason's colleagues. They caught each other's eye and sat down, grinning self-consciously.

Mark asked them, "How many people would want the autographs you can't collect?"

"Almost everyone in the NYPD and their families," Benson said.

"Same with the FBI," Huang admitted.

"What do you mean, 'almost everyone'?" Mock offense.

"Well, we don't know everyone in the department or the FBI."

Mark chuckled. "Once Jason gets back, I'll go out flying. In a regular airplane. No Birdstyle."


There was an interruption in their leave schedule after Jason returned. Princess was sent on amission, and Keyop slipped out to follow her. Then the others went after him.

Benson didn't ask for details. Anderson said only that the team had gone to the Himalayas. When they returned, she heard Z'ólt'ár's name in passing. Whatever he was up to, they had foiled the plan.


Time travel. That was one way around the hackers, Anderson thought. Use the hazard of time warp space travel technology to advantage. Or had a Spectran mission gone wrong, and the infiltrators made use of their technology to establish a base?

Security teams had already moved into the Changu area to analyze the remains of the time machine and the base. They would have preliminary answers within a few weeks. In the meantime, Security and Federation military forces would be on watch for any other such incidents.

He looked at the clock. Three hours. He'd lost three hours just over the report from Changu.

From his gut came a complaint. He'd missed lunch.


A week after the end of the mission, Benson, Princess, and Keyop went to Manhattan. The detective had a bit of a shock when she saw their first destination.

Jill's was the place she went when she wanted reassurance that teenagers and young adults really weren't going straight to hell. Princess and Keyop walked in as if they owned the place.

"Hey, Princess," Jill said. "Long time, no see."

"Been busy."

"I bet you have." She smiled at Benson, lowered her voice. "Hello, Detective."

She'd never flashed her badge, and tried not to talk shop, in this place. "How long have you known?"

"You and your handsome partner have 'detective' written all over you. And I read the paper."

Keyop opened a door under the serving counter and popped up on the other side. At Benson's raised eyebrows, Jill said, "Keeps him out of trouble. He has appropriate ID and works here part-time."

"I don't think I've been here while he was here."

Jill made a non-committal shrug. "Princess also works here part-time."

She knows they're G-Force. Benson ordered coffee.


An hour later, Detectives Goren and Eames took a table. Benson wasn't too surprised that Keyop stared at them. He probably looked them up after I told him about Jo Gage kidnapping Eames. As long as he doesn't blow his cover by going over and talking to them.

Princess sat across from her, glanced at the newcomers. "Jill gets a lot of cops who want to renew their faith in human nature coming in here. Most of our customers are pretty decent folks."

"I told Keyop about those two. The parts that could be told."

The Swan studied the pair. "I don't think I'd want to be the fool who harmed either one of them. Not unless I had all my affairs in order and my will written out."

"And then you'd find yourself in a cell for life. Those two don't operate that way." As more than a few criminals could attest.

"It feels good to get out and around."

Whether G-Force had been hiding or not, they had thought so, and when it came out in the first group session, yet another weight had lifted from them. That had been an interesting week of revelations and reassurances.

Mark had told her, privately, that he'd had some talks with Cronus. Commanding officer to commanding officer. If he knew her role in the Colonel's outreach, he did not give any sign.

"It does." When you got right down to it, Center Neptune was another glorified tin can, this time under water. There were only so many fish parades one could watch before screaming. "Nobody says anything about Keyop working?"

"He has ID giving his age as 15. Technically, we just help out. When this war is over, I'll go into partnership with Jill. Something nice and normal after all the violence." A mischievous gleam in the green eyes. "Or I might become a bouncer."

That would be something to see. "Go with the restaurant."

Keyop, bearing a tray and beverages, scooted over to Goren and Eames.

Well, that was one way to get a good look. At least he didn't linger too long.


Benson sorted her mail, suddenly aware of how much junk she received. I need a life, she thought, hoisting the trash bag.

After dumping the trash, she met Princess and Keyop in Central Park. The boy was up to something, she thought. He had a glint in his eye that she recognized from the sons of her various partners.


2130 hours. Anderson headed for his quarters. He'd spent half the day working on the planned attack against Spectra, and the other half on regular duties. Not once had he felt nervous or afraid, and he hadn't felt odd around the women.

I won't call myself cured, yet. He knew that recovery was not a linear process. Neither he nor G-Force would be out of the woods for a while. There would be plenty of setbacks and relapses in the meantime. They knew that.

"AAUugghh!" Then: "KEYOP!" Princess.

Mark: "Better run! I think she means it!"

Jason: "Go, Keyop!"

Keyop, burbling happily, shot across the intersection. Princess, wearing nothing more than her nightgown, followed.

He did not. Anderson felt the smile come. And more.

Tiny: "Hey, catch it, guys!"

Jason: "I got it, I got it - I don't have it."

Mark: "Over here, over here!"

A collective 'Oof!' and Tiny asked, "Where did he find one of these at this time of the year?"

He did.


Benson heard the ruckus and opened her door just as Keyop rushed past, Princess hot on his heels. Recalling a weeks-past mention of bugs and lizards, she headed towards G-Force's quarters just as a man's helpless laughter boomed.

Mark, Tiny, and Jason had separated out of a knot on the floor, Tiny holding an unhappy lizard. Chief Anderson slid down the wall, laughing with humor and fond familiarity. The three young men looked at each other, then collapsed into each other's arms with laughter (while Tiny kept custody of the lizard).

Benson grinned. Things were looking up.