Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: When I originally posted this story, a lot of readers wanted Horatio to get his chance to go up in the F-14, which he didn't. Some of you may remember that I had that chapter in A Monste's Ball and had to pull it out because it wouldn't have made sense. Well, here it is. Better late than never.

Chapter 5—Poetic Justice

"How'd you pull this off, Harm?"

The JAG smiled slyly. "Somebody at SecNav owed me a favor."

"Who?"

"Classified. I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

From the shelter of the hangar, Harm and Mac watched the blazing tarmac, waiting for that big moment. "Besides, I think Memorial Day was more fitting."

Mac nodded. "You're right."

With a proud smile, Eric Delko escorted Horatio out to the entrance. "Hey. Tell Widowmaker he can bring out his ride now."

Horatio wore a standard blue flight suit with a plain helmet, not as flashy as Rick's was. But that was all right. Horatio smiled as he looked down at the blue suit and adjusted some straps around his waist. "These are kind of warm for Florida in May."

"That's okay, Lieutenant" Harm said with a grin. "Wait till you get up to forty-thousand feet."

While glancing at Delko, Horatio moved closer to them. "Commander Rabb? Commander McKenzie? How did you arrange this?"

"SecNav changed Widowmaker's flight plans. Ends up there's some bad turbulence between here and Washington, so he's flying back tomorrow. Besides, we had extra jet fuel left over for two flights. Now we have to burn it up or dump it in the ocean. When I told him what happened about you and Sergeant Stetler, Command made the decision. You're going up."

Mac motioned toward his plain helmet. "t's not as fancy as Sergeant Stetler's. Kind of last minute."

The redheaded lieutenant looked at the concrete floor and smiled. Gently he patted the helmet. "That's quite all right."

Slowly the silver Tomcat taxied up toward the grandstands and raised the cockpit shield.

"This is your cue, Lieutenant" Harm said, guiding him by the shoulder.

"You can do this, H" Delko said with that boyish grin.

Helmet under arm, Horatio donned his sunglasses before walking out across the tarmac. The heat could be felt rising from the concrete, and everything seemed to flutter. No matter, though. In his sight was that fighter jet.

Frank. Calleigh. Natalia. Frank. Ryan. Emmie. Tyler. Delko sat with them in the shaded grandstand. Delko sat directly behind Calleigh and put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey. Better than Saturday, huh?"

"Yeah Not as much of a crowd. No TV cameras all over the place."

He looked at her with that boyish grin. "Yeah, except that means Horatio doesn't get to puke on Sykes."

"Or Stetler" Ryan chimed in.

No huge announcements. Only the crime lab standing up and cheering as Horatio turned around and gave them a final wave.

"Go, H!"

"Give 'em hell!"

His red hair blew sideways in the jet's wash. One of the uniformed flight crew slid his sunglasses off. "Sorry Lieutenant" he yelled over the noise. Can't wear these."

"Why don't you watch them for me, Son? I'll need them when I get back."

Helmet and breathing apparatus in place, Horatio climbed up the ladder and into the seat while being strapped in and hooked up to the oxygen.

"Welcome aboard, Lieutenant" a familiar voice yelled over the radio. "I'm gonna be your pilot for the duration of this flight."

"Widowmaker. Nice to finally meet you in person."

"I don't see Puke Boy out there. Couldn't make it?"

"He wasn't feeling well this morning."

"Too bad. I was starting to like him. What say we take a little tour of the Atlantic? Give the crew the thumbs up if you're ready."

Horatio turned toward the crew and gave the thumbs-up as Widowmaker instructed. Tyler proudly snapped his picture.

"Well, Lieutenant? Ready to go flying?"

"I'm ready, Widowmaker."

The flight crew ducked and dropped the flag as the engines crescendoed to a deafening scream. Within seconds, the silver F14 shot down the runway and disappeared as Widowmaker executed a steep combat takeoff.

Horatio felt himself being slammed back against the seat as the world seemed to fly past him and then disappear in a second. He tried to raise his arms, but the G-force prevented him from doing so.

"I just have one rule, Lieutenant. No puking in my plane, okay?" Widowmaker said with a smile in his voice. "I'll take it easy on you."

Horatio smiled to himself. "No, Widowmaker. I'd rather see what this thing can do."

The jaded fighter pilot sounded excited. "You mean it?"

"I mean it. I've always wanted to ride in one of these things."

"Well, okay then!" Widowmaker let out an adrenaline-induced howl as he pulled back on the accelerator.

Horatio's team stood up expectantly as the jet came in for a landing. As the silver Tomcat pulled to a final stop, two members of the flight crew pulled the tired, quaking passenger out of the rear seat and helped him with his helmet. His team stood up and cheered as he gave one last thumbs-up, tired, but smiling.

Two members of the flight crew took him by each arm and guided him to the bleachers. With smiles the lab stood up and walked toward him. His face was a dark red and he was panting from the G force pressure on his ribcage, but he grinned ear to ear between breaths.

"Horatio! You look like you had fun" Natalia observed.

Delko patted him on the shoulder. "H! How's it feel?"

"It felt great" he said between pants.

Satisfied that Horatio was able to function on his own, they sat him down on the front bleacher. One of them handed back his sunglasses, which he slipped on immediately. As everyone sat around him, he quickly glanced up as Tyler snapped pictures.

"You didn't get sick, did you?" Ryan wanted to know.

Still breathing, Horatio turned to them. "There were some bags on the seat. Made it just in time." He then glanced down at himself. "I'm sure the Navy would like their flight gear back now."

Horatio waved at the silver F-14 as it taxied away.