You're sure they're here?

I'm sure. Cortana leaned her head back to catch his eye, traffic cameras caught a group matching their description outside one of the hotels here three nights ago, and they were seen again leaving that hotel fifteen minutes ago. They're here, and they're coming this way.

Pressing his back against the decorative pillar, John fought to keep from moving. Tension roiled beneath his skin, begging for an outlet; he settled for rolling his shoulders, the synthetic material of his jacket crinkling. The senate hall below them was full of people; staff and local officials, members of the press, even a few activists and protesters. A few sangheili, too, all of them in the softer civilian harnesses rather than armored combat gear. He wondered idly if they felt as exposed as he did. Durban's largest embassy was nestled in the middle of Biko's most populated city, full to bursting with civilians on their morning commute. It would last easily for another hour, Cortana had explained when he'd pointed out the crowds on their way in, and would provide good cover among the workforce. Any ordinary person would have been lost among the throng.

The people they were looking for were anything but ordinary.

What are they doing here?

I'm still sorting it all out, but from what was written in the ONI report they're all serving as bodyguards to one Richard Sekibo. He's a big name when it comes to continuing peace talks between humanity and the sangheili, which has gotten him some rather negative attention from some radical groups. She glanced sidelong at him. ONI funded radical groups.

Do you think they know that?

Pretty sure they've guessed. She tucked hair out of her eyes, returning her attention to the hall below. Judging by how the cameras were moving, she wasn't using just her own eyes to keep watch. That last mission they were on put them on the same path as Sekibo. Reports say they saved his life from an assassination attempt and stuck around, but given the trouble they're noted as running into I'd put credits on them knowing this is bigger than racist idiots.

John clenched his jaw so tightly his ears started to ring. He'd known that ONI had its secrets but this was too much. To target a peaceful diplomat, one of their own, was one thing. Preventing lasting peace between humanity and the sangheili was short-sighted and he couldn't understand their reasoning, but fine. There had to be some tactical importance behind the idea. But that they would target UNSC assets like Blue Team...it unsettled him. The look on Admiral Osman's face at the hearing flashed across his mind's eye, the way she had looked at Cortana like she was an obstacle to be eliminated...did she think that way about Blue Team? Were they all just obstacles to her?

A chill settled across his shoulders, Cortana's wordless attempt to ease his worries. Taking a deep breath he shook his head, forcing his muscles to relax. It didn't matter. Whatever was going on, they would handle it. Once he had eyes on Blue Team he would help them complete whatever mission they had taken on, and after that. Well, they'd deal with the rest after that.

And FLEETCOM doesn't know this is happening.

No. ONI kept this under the radar, kept Sekibo's attempts to call for help from reaching the right ears. As far as Lord Hood knows, Blue Team really did go MIA in Covenant space. It just wasn't because of the Covenant.

No. It was because of ONI. They kept things compartmentalized, and for good reason. If it got out that they were targeting their own people, there would be chaos in the ranks. Dissent would spread, splintering through the UNSC forces and leaving mistrust to spread in its wake. He understood keeping things on a need to know basis, but this went too far. He couldn't understand it, and he probably never would. The war was over. Why were they so determined to restart it? He set the question aside for later.

We'll need proof if we're going to tell him what really happened.

I'm working on that, too. Cortana sighed, both physically and mentally. It's going to be one hell of a mess.

John could imagine. He hummed quietly, rolling his shoulders. The skylight overhead offered a clear view of the sky above, a thick layer of rose colored clouds left over from the overnight rains just now beginning to break and allow scattered glimpses of the almost white sky they were hiding. Deneb's pale blue glow sent shafts of light down to the city, the soft warmth falling across the hall. Cortana reached out, cupping a sunbeam in her bare hand. She'd changed her code to appear more human and the near-white light rippled across warm olive skin, but even changing her colors couldn't change the softness that came to her expression as she felt real sunlight for the first time in her life.

John had to swallow the lump that rose in his throat. She deserved this, the chance to feel sunlight on her skin, and so much more.

"Does it feel real?" He asked quietly, the two of them in their own little world. She looked back at him, her eyes still so blue. "The sun. Does it feel real?"

Cortana blinked. Then, slowly, she smiled. The comforting chill wrapped itself a little tighter around his shoulders and he held it close. Maybe he'd never quite figure out an answer to the question she had asked him back then, but to be here in this moment with her was enough.

"Yes," She said just as softly, "It does."

The break in the clouds blew on past, returning the hall to the dimmer artificial lights below as they stole the sunlight but not her smile. She suddenly turned her attention to the main doors, the mechanical workings pushing hard to open the sturdy metal sides as a crowd of people walked inside. Men and women in suits, hands to their earpieces and eyes on their tablets, heels clicking against the marble floor. Diplomatic personnel, Sekibo's staff. He would be just behind them, and with him Blue Team.

John stepped out from behind the pillar, reaching out to grasp the rail with both hands. Cortana pressed in against his side, her light warm and buzzing against his skin as they watched, neither saying a word. The crowd of staff kept walking, going to begin the set up for the talks that would start soon. John gave them a once over, then turned his attention to the rear of the group. A dark haired woman with a serious face walked in beside an older man, a hand on the holster at her hip. Their heads were pressed in together, her whispering something to him, but John's attention wasn't on the two of them. It was on the three taller figures that surrounded them.

Against the backdrop of average humans there was no mistaking them for anything other than Spartans, and though five years stood between them John would have known his team anywhere. Fred loomed over the two in front of him, a little grayer at the temples and with a little extra color to his skin that hadn't been there the last time John had seen him, but he was still recognizably Fred. That was one.

A pace to Fred's left, Kelly strode through the hall like she owned the place. The blue dye in her hair was fresh, the bright color a vivid reminder of Reach's horizon at dawn. She drew stares but didn't care, more focused on keeping watch. That was two. A pace to Fred's right, Linda pulled off a pair of sunglasses, her bottle green eyes faintly narrowed as she considered the hall, the closing doors, and their surroundings before she locked eyes with Fred and gave the signal for all clear. That was three.

John's chest had grown tight, and he had to remind himself to breathe. They were alive. Somewhere deep inside, a tired old part of his heart remembered how to beat again. Cortana leaned over enough to look up at him.

Well? She smiled fondly, Don't you want to go say hello?

He did. He looked down at her, her smile warming him from within, then looked back down to his team. Rather than call out to them John whistled six clear notes, the sound echoing through the hall. More than a few people looked up, looking for the odd sound, but he paid them no mind. His attention was firmly on his siblings, watching as the three of them stopped dead. The dark haired woman froze when they did, looking back at Fred with one hand still on her gun, but his focus was elsewhere. The three once lost members of Blue Team turned in different directions to scan the area for the source of the whistle, their old signal, and it was Linda that looked up first. John watched her jolt as if struck, frozen by surprise for the span of three heartbeats. She didn't speak, didn't need to, but he could see the question in her eyes.

John?

Kelly saw him next, leaning back for a better look at what had caught Linda's attention only for her own eyes to go wide. Catching onto his sister's surprise Fred jerked his head around, stopping dead a second time and adding his gaze to their stares. John had to smile faintly, both sides of his mouth lifting upwards. What? Was he really the strangest thing they'd seen all day? They hadn't seen anything yet. Cortana snickered, catching the thought. He glanced down at her and she arched an eyebrow, tilting her head. He reached for her hand.

We go together.

Always.

Her small hand slipped perfectly into his grip. For the first time in years, John had everything he needed. No matter what happened, or what they had to face, he knew that things would work out somehow. They had each other, after all. That was all that mattered.

With that thought in mind, and with Cortana at his side, he headed down to greet his family.

And then they proceeded to have all manner of galaxy spanning (mis)adventures and get into all sorts of trouble together for the next eternity, but those are stories for another time. This 'verse is a big one, and one I've purposefully left open to return to at some point, but for now I'm content to leave them all happy and alive. :3 For now, anyway.

Now, first off! Once again many many smooches and thank yous to Mehs for being my Halo Buddy, and for helping me to get in John's head so well. This was for you, boo. Also with thanks to Mel for being my staunchest reviewer and reccer. Thank you for your enthusiasm; getting your reviews quickly became the highlight of that day.

Lastly, all my thanks to the rest of you as well! All my readers, reviewers, faves and followers, kudosers and everything in between. Thank you all for reading, no matter when you came in, and I hope you enjoyed.

Until next time!

Sara