Back at the lab, with Alexx fussing over him like a mother hen, Horatio pondered his next move. He had to leave it for a while at least, certainly until Murdoch completed his part, otherwise it would be too obvious that he was trying to help the A-Team. Eric and Ryan were still discussing the battle they had witnessed, describing it to Dan Cooper and the other lab techs, and judging by the sound effects Eric was making, Horatio was coming out of it as a bit of a hero. Not that he felt like one.

"Sugar, are you sure you're OK?" Alexx touched his shoulder gently. The fertiliser grenades had been a wonderful idea, but they had left him with several superficial burns on his hands from being too close to the flame. Alexx had taken one look at them and decided that if he insisted on not going to hospital, he had to let her take a closer look. Some people, Horatio considered, would find it slightly creepy to be receiving medical attention in the morgue, while sitting on the autopsy table, but he was getting used to it.

"Thanks Alexx, but I really am OK." He smiled at her, and she narrowed her eyes. "Honestly. The burns sting a little, but that's all. Really, I'm fine." The ME fixed him with her most penetrating stare, the one that always made Horatio feel mildly uncomfortable, as though she could see straight through him, before she nodded.

"Well, all right, but you tell me if they starting stinging any worse, or if they hurt OK? You need to take better care of yourself."

"Yes mom."

Laughing, she smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "Go on, get out of here before I decide to ground you and stop your pocket money." Laughing as well, he glanced around before giving her a light kiss on the cheek. Alexx flushed and shooed him out of her room. "Charmer! Go on, get out of here!"

Eric and his audience were outside waiting for him, and Horatio held up his hand prevent being swamped with questions. It didn't stop Cooper however. "So, H, you really made grenades out of fertiliser? That is so brilliant! And you were really fighting with the A-Team! C'mon, you've got to admit, that's just cool!"

"Yeah," Eric chimed in, "especially that bit where you guys were firing grenades at the Noches!" He started making whooshing sounds again, imitating the explosions. Horatio winced, feeling another headache coming on.

Luckily, Calleigh rescued him. "I need to speak to you in private," she said, dragging him away from the crowd of admirers. "You know, if you don't want to be a hero, you might want to stop getting into situations like this."

"Thank you for your advice," he said dryly. He followed her into the ballistics lab and frowned when she shut the door. "What is it Cal?"

She bit her lip, suddenly hesitant. He wondered what in the world would make Calleigh Duquesne nervous, and hoped it wasn't the start of more trouble. After all, he could really have done with a quiet end to the week. "Horatio, I'm, it's just…" she trailed off before taking a deep breath and steeling herself for whatever she wanted to say. "Look, I know that the A-Team are criminals and that they probably should be arrested, but they saved your life, and stopped the Noches, and I just think we should be doing something to help them."

"I know."

"I mean, I get that criminals do need to pay for their crimes, and that justice must be the most important thing to us because we are police officers, but don't you think we should be helping them? I'm still not entirely sure how, but I don't like the fact that the A-Team got arrested because of us."

"Cal, I know." He caught hold of her arm. "Calleigh, I'm agreeing with you here."

"Oh." She blushed awkwardly. "So what are we going to do?"

"You are going to do nothing. I don't want you to get into trouble over this. If anyone does, it should be me. So just leave it with me and I will take care of this."

Horatio was already at the door when Calleigh spoke. "No. No, Horatio, I won't let you do this by yourself. I don't care whether you're trying to protect me, but I will not let you do this by yourself." He arched an eyebrow, surprised at her vehemence, but nodded warily, agreeing in principle at least. He could protect her from the repercussions later. "Right. Good. I'm glad we've got that sorted. So what are we going to do?"

Murdoch settled his baseball cap a little more firmly on his head and tried to figure out what he was going to say. Usually he never bothered with a plan, but he felt like he should at least try this time. Still, nothing came to mind, so he paused at the corner of the street, before turning into the road that led to the police impound lot and praying for divine inspiration. As always, the plan came to him as he sprinted up to the gate.

"Quick! You gotta help me! Help me!"

The officer at the gate looked up, startled, and Murdoch noted happily that he was young. Far too young to know how to deal with someone like Howlin' Mad Murdoch that was for sure. "What's the matter sir?"

"There's been a terrible accident! A terrible, terrible accident!" Murdoch burst into noisy tears. "It's horrible! Just horrible, I tell you! There's blood everywhere. And all he keeps saying is 'she shouldn't have yelled at me'. That's all he'll say! Help me!"

"OK sir," the young officer said in what he clearly thought was his calm and efficient voice. "I need you to tell me exactly what happened."

"He stabbed her!" Murdoch said wildly. "He got the knife and he stabbed her again and again and again…" With each 'again', Murdoch made a stabbing motion towards the officer's heart. "Again and again and again!" As the officer went for his radio, Murdoch quickly rethought his plan. Reporting a murder wouldn't get rid of him. "She was still alive when I got there." That got the officer's attention. "Maybe you can save her."

The idea of being a hero produced the desired result and the young officer sprinted away in the direction Murdoch pointed him in, not realising that as he went, Murdoch discreetly lifted the set of keys from his belt. Luckily, the guard detail on the impound lot had been reduced only that morning. Handy, that, Murdoch thought with a grin. Swinging the keys around one finger, Murdoch started humming happily as he unlocked the gate and let himself into the impound lot. It didn't take long to find the van, and he was soon inside in the driver's seat. This would be a rare treat. BA never let him drive. Revving the engine, he drove sedately out towards the gate. The young officer came back around the corner then, talking on the radio, and Murdoch put his foot down flat on the accelerator. The van leapt forward, and smashed through the barrier that he hadn't had time to move. The officer had no choice but to leap out of the way as Murdoch screeched around the corner, tires squealing in protest. Then he was clean away, and Murdoch let out a triumphant yell.

"Yee haw! The A-Team are almost home free!"