Chapter 15

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The team, or rather, three-fifths of the team, spent the next few hours searching phone records and credit card receipts. Jack was trying to figure out what Dornvald's next move could be but his thoughts kept straying to how in a matter of hours, three of his agents lives faced great peril.

He'd known Viv for years and their relationship was one of the most important in his life. She never hesitated to call him on when he acted like a jerk, an idiot or as she phrased it, "a man in general." Having to take back the job he fought so hard to get for her was one of the most difficult things he had to do in his life but he didn't see how he could possibly have had any other choice. He finally thought they were getting back to good when he found out that she had been hiding a heart condition from him. That stung, but he was trying to show her that he was still her friend no matter what.

He wasn't particularly close to Danny but he respected him and often felt like his surrogate dad. He wore his heart on his sleeve and it was something that he admired in him as a man and an agent. It also seemed as if he was often trying to impress him while simultaneously trying to gain his independence. Plus, he was funny as hell.

As for Martin, well that was a whole different story. Their relationship was like a see-saw: there were lots of ups and downs. Some could argue that it was an adversarial relationship but there was entirely too much respect on both parts. Martin had managed to prove he was more than just the Deputy Director's son trying to coast his way through life. And while Jack could hardly call him a friend, as he knew almost nothing about Martin's life outside of work, he would never want any harm to come to him. Of course, the one big detail he knew about his personal life he did his best to never think about. He still found it hard to believe that Martin and Sam were involved. He thought she would never mix her professional and personal life again but somehow Fitzgerald managed to find a way to convince her otherwise.

Before he could dwell on it any further, his thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. "Malone."

"Hi Jack, this is Turner over at Smither's Airfield. We've spotted Amadi Jamal. It looks like he is trying doing some kind of maintenance check-up on the plane. Do you want us to apprehend him or hang back?"

Jack contemplated a moment. "Keep your distance, we're on our way. If he makes a move to leave, arrest him." He hung up the phone and went out to the bullpen to get Danny and Sam.

Before arriving at the airfield, Jack called Turner to find out exactly where Jamal was located. Turner told him he was hanging out in the farthest hanger so he had Sam park two hangers down and then the entire team went on foot to the hanger were Jamal was spotted. He also instructed Turner and the other agent to move in from the opposite direction. When they were just outside the hanger, Jack gave the order for both teams to move in quickly.

"Freeze! F.B.I.! Amadi Jamal you're under arrest!"

It seemed that Jack's tactic worked, Amadi was thrown off guard. He tried to make a run for it but stopped in his tracks as Turner entered through the back door. So he turned around and made a move to run up the stairs when he came across Danny who tackled him before he could reach the first step.

It was then that Jack realized Danny was doing more than just apprehending the suspect. He had not only tackled Amadi but began pounding into him.

"Where in the hell is Dornvald you piece of shit!" Danny looked as if he was ready and willing to kill Amadi.

"Danny, no!" Jack called out as he ran over to where Danny had Amadi on the ground.

"How do you like it now?" Danny hit Amadi in the face once again.

"Danny, stop it! It's not worth it!" Sam yelled as she rushed towards the men.

"Not so easy when you're ambushed is it!" Danny was just about to hit him again when Jack and Turner met up and pulled him off. As they did, Sam approached with her gun trained on Amadi.

"Stop it! That's enough!" Jack's voice had such an edge of anger that it finally seemed to get through and he stopped struggling. "Enough!"

Danny came to his senses and stopped struggling against them. He looked down at a bloodied Amadi, maneuvered out of Turner's hold and walked straight out of the hanger.

Jack looked back down at Amadi as Sam began reading him his rights as Turner cuffed him. "Amadi Jamal you are under arrest…."

Seeing that he was safely in custody, Jack walked out of the hanger to find Danny.

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Danny walked out of the hanger and just kept on going; past the hangers, past the planes on the airstrip, past the runway. He could not believe that he railed into Amadi the way he did. Actually, no, he could believe it. That was the problem. No agent should ever let their emotions get the better of them when it comes to a suspect; never.

And yet, lately, that is exactly what he had been doing. Luis Vega, the guy who betrayed Rafi, came to mind. Danny thought back to how supportive and helpful Martin was when looking for Rafi. Martin even managed to keep him honest when he was breaking into Vega's car.

"This car could've been used to kidnap your brother," Martin announced.

Danny just looked at him. He was amused that he was trying to find an excuse for what he was about to do – regardless if it was legal or not.

"Exigent circumstances work for me," Martin added, smiling.

Danny laughed mirthlessly when he recalled that the last time he was pulled off a suspect was by Martin and now Martin was the reason he was on the rampage once more.

"Danny, hold up!" He swung around to see Jack heading his way.

He stopped walking and began to apologize, "I'm sorry, Jack. I don't know what came over me…."

Jack held up his hand and said, "Cut it. It's my fault. I knew you weren't really ready to come back and I should've stuck by my gut instincts."

He shook his head and pleaded, "Jack, no, I have to…."

"Go home, Danny," he ordered; there was no mistaking his anger. "Get some rest."

"Jack…"

"Go."

At that, Danny stormed off without giving Jack so much as a backward glance.