Pressure Makes Diamonds

Chapter 15

Sorry this final chapter took so long. I've been besieged by other plot bunnies, but I think that now that it's about to premiere, my mojo is back on track so I hope this satisfies.

Steve came by the hospital to check on his partner. After learning about how the sniper, Shaun Rossi, a former CIA agent had been killed, he had an idea about who might have done it, but the thought didn't sit well with him. Maybe more accurately, he was torn between understanding the justice that killing Wo Fat would bring, after all, he had entertained the idea more than once himself, and the pain it would cause to bring justice to his killer.

When Steve walked in, he found Danny seemingly lost in thought, twirling what looked like a flash drive in his hand.

"Penny for your thoughts," Steve teased.

Danny looked up.

"Very funny. In this economy? And on a cop's salary? Oh, wait, I'm not a cop anymore."

Steve smiled. Even in the depths of despair, he was positive that Danny could bring him out of it with a single rant, if only to tell him to shut up.

"What's with the drive?"

"Now, that's a good question. Have you seen Jenna?" Danny asked.

Steve stiffened.

"No, why?"

"She left this with me, said that you might find the information on it useful to catching Wo Fat's international network."

"She was here?"

"Yeh, she was visiting and saying goodbye," Danny said, a puzzled expression on his face.

Steve straightened and anxiety filled him.

"How long ago?"

"About an hour. Why?"

"Chin got the info on our sniper. Former CIA. He was shot in the chest at close range."

"So he wasn't our shooter?"

"No, someone got to him first and –"

"Killed Wo Fat," Danny finished.

Danny looked at the flash drive. Steve noticed the pensive look that came over Danny.

"What?"

"That would explain a lot. She seemed sad, maybe a little nervous, but if she's the one who took out Wo Fat, which I have to say, I wholeheartedly thank her for, why would she waste time visiting me, leaving me this?"

Steve's expression went soft and sympathetic.

"I think she became a part of our team. Maybe, at first, it was all about hunting down Wo Fat and needing the means and resources that we could provide to help her, but when you got poisoned and helped us on that case, she probably felt like she belonged. Then when you got shot in the crossfire, I think she just needed to know that you were all right."

"Pity. I seem to have that affect on people."

Steve laughed. Danny handed the flash drive to Steve.

"You going after her?"

Steve thought for a moment.

"She's CIA. If she can corner and take out another CIA agent, not to mention kill Wo Fat with a sniper rifle, she's into the wind by now."

Danny noted Steve's reaction.

"You're going to let her go, aren't you?" Danny said, understanding in his voice.

"Yeh, I really can't blame her and maybe it's time we both set our vendettas aside. She could've just killed Wo Fat and left, but she didn't."

Steve looked over at Danny, a look of gratitude on his face.

"Thanks…for not giving up…" Steve said sincerely then put on a scolding expression. "Although I have to say that it was a really stupid thing to do, you put a gigantic target on your back."

"And that's the thanks I get, you are really an ungrateful SOB, you know that? Here I am lying in a hospital bed after getting SHOT AT, eating crappy hospital food, I just should have let you rot in jail. Next time I won't feel so charitable."

Steve just listened and inwardly, he just let himself enjoy the sound of Danny's ranting.

FIN. Hope you enjoyed this story. Thanks for being so patient with it. It's appreciated. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and who made this story a favorite. It's all appreciated. Hoping to be newly inspired as the new season begins.