Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Chapter 3-Finally Cool

Horatio, Frank, Delko, Calleigh, Natalia, Ryan, and the staff at the Miami-Dade Crime Lab, as well as any Miami-Dade police officers, enjoyed front row seats in the shaded bleachers at the Homestead Airfield. The overhead shade in the VIP section was certainly welcome in the stifling Memorial Day sun.

Emmie stood in the doorway of the hangar and chatted with Mac when they noticed Harm escorting a very proud but worked-over Rick Stetler to the doorway. Admittedly he cut a striking figure in the dark green flight suit, complete with Navy aviation patch on his left shoulder, carrying the personalized red-and-white flight helmet that the Navy had designed for this occasion. As soon as Rick saw Emmie and Mac, that smile of his reappeared.

"Ladies" he said, very proud of himself once again, knowing full well he had their attention.

"Sergeant Stetler. Well, you look like you're ready for this" Mac observed with a smile.

Emmie shrugged and also smiled. "Well Sir, much as I hate to admit, I almost feel like I should salute you. You look fantastic."

Harm leaned over to Mac and Emmie. "The sergeant almost didn't survive the preflight physical" he whispered. "I thought the doctor was gonna kill him first."

Out on the airfield a voice boomed over the public address system.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Can we have your attention, please. The United States Navy and Air Force, in a gesture of good will to the Miami-Dade Police Department have chosen one police officer to fly on one of the Navy's world-famous F14 Tomcat fighter jets. The F14 Tomcat is the U.S. Navy's superior jet fighter and is capable of traveling at 7G's at Mach 2. I'd like to remind you that '7G' is seven times the speed of a freefall, while Mach 2 is equal to twice the speed of sound. As a tribute to Miami's Finest we have one F14 that will be flown by Lieutenant Gill Marshall. Lieutenant Marshall has done two combat tours in the Persian Gulf and has also flown with the Blue Angels."

A hush fell over the crowd as a freshly-shined, freshly painted F14 slowly taxied up the runway close to the grandstand, closer to the main building, afterburners glowing on each side. The cockpit hatch slowly opened. On each side of the cockpit seating, Widowmaker and Sergeant Stetler had been stenciled on the front and back, respectively.

Rick stood proudly in the doorway next to Harm fingering the collar of his green flight suit and carrying the red and white flight helmet that said Rick on the front. This was it. This was going to be his defining moment. Never again was anyone in that lab going to make fun of him. He was finally cool now. He was going to ride with the big boys this time. Horatio would have to respect him now. Even Emmie noticed him this time. He knew she still had that thing for a man in uniform.

"Ready to do this, Sergeant?" Harm said with a smile, patting the IAB agent on the back.

"I was born ready" Rick assured him with that confident grin of his. "Let's go."

"Ladies and gentlemen, we'd like to direct your attention to our honored police officer of the day, Sergeant Rick Stetler" the announcer said. "Now, walking out with Navy Commander Harmon Rabb, please Sergeant Stetler a heroes' welcome!"

There was a quite applause as the tall, skinny figure in a dark green flight suit accompanied the figure in Navy whites through the rippling air, across the hot pavement towards the fighter jet. As he passed the front of the VIP stand, Rick couldn't help but look at Horatio with a proud smile as he continued his walk of fame. Tyler stood by, well away from the engines, videotaping the entire experience in the rippling heat.

Miami news reporter Erica Sykes eagerly walked beside Rick and Harm on the black tarmac, camera crew in tow, trying to be the first to capture the County's shining moment, repeatedly elbowing Tyler out of the way.

"Hey!"

"Move, lab rat!" she snapped. "Find your own story!"

Satisfied that she was in a good position, Erica Sykes turned toward the camera. "Okay. Roll tape."

"This is CVS news reporter Erica Sykes, and I'm here at the Homestead Airfield. Coming out now is Commander Harmon Rabb with the United States Navy as he gets to escort Sergeant Stetler with the Miami-Dade Internal Affairs Office." She sidled up to Harm as the news camera followed her. "Sergeant, this has to be a very proud day for you and the Miami-Dade Police Department. Do you have anything to say to our audience at CVS before you go up?"

Rick proudly fingered the collar of his flight suit again as he smiled. "Well, I hate to brag. But something like this has been a long time in coming for me and for the Miami-Dade Crime Lab. And make sure you get a good shot of us taking off, okay?" Harm guided him a little more forcefully toward the waiting fighter.

Erica Sykes just stared at him before she turned back to the camera. "We're here live as Sergeant Stetler makes his way up into the F14 Tomcat. Looks like they'll be taking off in just a minute after Sergeant Stetler gets strapped in."

As he went up the ladder and into his seat in the cockpit, the IAB agent's energy rose as visions of Top Gun went through his mind. Two green-suited members of the flight crew strapped him in securely, attached his breathing apparatus and secured his personalized helmet.

"Wow, these seats are comfortable" he said through his helmet as the flight crew finished making sure everything was on him properly.

"Can you hear me okay, Sergeant?" Widowmaker said in a normal voice over his radio speaker. "If you can, just give me the thumbs-up."

He responded by putting up his left gloved thumb. Finally cool.

"Just one thing, Sergeant. You'll find a couple of plastic bags on the seat next to you. If you feel like you're gonna puke, just grab one, open your helmet and let it fly. Try not to puke in your air mask, because if you do, you'll suffocate. I don't want to have to come back early. And whatever you do, don't puke in my jet, okay?" Widowmaker said nonchalantly over the radio.

Rick sniffed. "I can handle this. I used to love rollercoasters when I was a kid. Never got sick on one."

A maniacal grin crossed Widowmaker's face. "Well then, you're gonna love this even more."

Adrenaline shot through Rick as the cockpit hatch slowly closed over his head. The only noise was Widowmaker's voice on the radio.

"Give them the thumbs-up to let them know you're ready, Sergeant" the weathered pilot instructed.

Though he knew nobody could see his face, Rick smiled as he gave a thumbs-up. Tyler snapped his picture while Erica Sykes kept trying to crowd him out, the better for her TV news glory.

Adrenaline shot through Rick now. He couldn't help but freeze as the jet's engines roared to life, causing his teeth to vibrate.

"Are you ready Sergeant?" Widowmaker nearly hollered, his voice sounding almost maniacal at this point.

"Let's go!" Rick said confidently. "Show me what you can do!"

The F14's engines crescendoed to a deafening roar as the jets burned white hot, the air rippling furiously behind them. As the traffic controller ducked down and dropped the flag, giving the signal for takeoff, the jet shot forward on the runway at a blinding and deafening pitch, shaking the ground as Widowmaker pulled back on the accelerator, flying down the runway, into the air, and out of sight within seconds.

"How do you think he'll stand up against Widowmaker?" Mac asked Emmie.

The computer tech grinned. "I just hope Tyler remembered that cockpit recorder."