13

Sorry about not posting yesterday. Life intervened and I wasn't able to write. So, here is the second to last chapter to "Reunited." I hope you like it!

Heavy footsteps not quite matched with small ones made Adam's stomach lurch. This situation made him extremely nervous. In all his years associated with law enforcement, he'd never been in a position like this. Usually, he sat behind a desk and did research that way. Sometimes, he'd had to take photographs or do interviews, but that was pretty much the extent of it. Now, with this job, he would be in these situations all of the time. H was seriously rethinking this.

The dim lighting over the docks outlined the figures of a slightly overweight, middle-aged man and a short, average sized little girl. He grasped her upper arm tightly, and it bothered Miranda immensely. Unfortunately, she couldn't risk upsetting Brad. She wasn't sure how far off his rocker he really was or what he would do to Ashley if he was provoked. So, she waited impatiently, her hand aching to grasp Adam's, until Brad stopped in front of them. He appeared to be laughing.

Brad stated, "So, the two of you actually came alone. I'm impressed."

Adam replied, "That was your instruction."

Brad tilted his head slightly to one side. "It's too bad you never bothered to listen to me before. This could've ended a lot better."

Brad pulled out a large pistol and aimed it directly at Adam. He laughed at the expressions of horror on Adam and Miranda's faces. "You really didn't think I was going to let you go that easy and have your happy ending, did you? Where's my happy ending, huh? I don't have one because of you two!"

Adam had his hands up and trembled, "Listen, Brad: just because Miranda was married to me at the time you hit on her and rejected your advances doesn't give you the right to blame us for your unhappiness."

"What do you know? You're not me. I liked Miranda. However, you had to stand in the way of it all."

"I was married to her, Brad! I put a ring on her finger! If anyone didn't have a right in this situation, it was you. Miranda and I were happy until you came along. You just couldn't resist, though, could you? Poor little rich boy's unhappiness trumps everything, right?"

"Shut up, Raines, or your impending death will be sooner than you expect."

The sound of the Five-0 boat buzzing across the water less than 200 feet from the dock relieved some of the tension curling in Adam's stomach. Not only that, but he knew Steve and the rest of the team were close by. Brad wouldn't be getting away. They just wanted enough evidence on the wire to nail him.

Brad began laughing hysterically, "Oh, this is rich. I thought no one could be this stupid. Did you really think I wouldn't notice your team riding around in the water? Well, that will be fixed."

Brad aimed his weapon at the boat, now only fifty feet away. His action was interrupted by Steve's firm voice shouting, "Drop your weapon. It's over, Brad."

Brad bent as if to drop his weapon, then bolted up and began firing at the boat. Two bullets hit the motor. One put a hole in the bottom of the boat. Water began pouring in and gradually the boat began to sink.

Steve began firing, as did Danny and Catherine. Brad threw Ashley on the deck and began to run. The three began to chase Brad as he hopped on board one of the speed boats next to the dock. They ran as fast as they could, but couldn't catch up to Brad as he started the boat and sped away.

Half an hour later, the Five-0 team and Miranda and Ashley were sitting on the Waikiki docks, still reeling from the failed attempt to catch Brad. Luckily, Chin, Kono, and Chrissy were fine after Brad sank the boat. They'd swam to shore feeling defeated, much like the rest of the team.

Steve answered a few questions from HPD with a heavy heart. In his mind, he'd let down Chrissy, Adam, Miranda, and Ashley. He'd allowed the man who'd caused them so much pain to get away. It made him sick to his stomach.

After he finished with HPD, Steve decided to approach Adam about his options. Despite the fact that he would love to have Adam work for him permanently, he had a feeling that Adam would prefer to be with Miranda and Ashley. As far as they were concerned, Steve figured it would be best to place them in protective custody on the mainland. He would lose a Five-0 member, but Adam would get what he'd always wanted: a family.

Steve was just about to approach Adam with this when he stopped in his tracks. Adam had Ashley in his lap and his arm around Miranda's shoulders. Steve smiled and, deciding not to ruin their moment, turned around and went to check on Chrissy.