"Pizza and beer sounds like the perfect ending to a day like today," Harrelson said to the trio of officers. "Unfortunately, my wife has other plans for my time. You guys have a good time – you've earned it today."

"Deke already skipped out on us," Dom said. "Married men …"

"Watch it, Dom," TJ said. "I'm signed up for that, just a matter of time."

"It really isn't all that bad," Harrelson said, climbing the steps to leave.

"At least Susan lets you have some fun," Dom said to TJ.

Watching Harrelson disappear, TJ said, "I don't think it's the wives holding them back, Dom."

"Are you saying that the Lieutenant and Sergeant would rather spend their off-time with their wives and families than the three of us?" Jim asked, laughing.

"I'd say that's a pretty safe bet." TJ closed his locker, now dressed as a civilian. "You guys ready?"

"More than ready," Jim said.

"I think I'll skip the partying, too," Dom said. "I'm kinda tired." He walked back to his desk. "I'll just finish these reports for the Lieutenant and head home."

"Come on, Dom," TJ said. "You don't want to make the ladies at Crazy Mary's miss out on the Italian Flash, do you?"

Dom grinned. "That is a shame." He shuffled the papers on his desk. "But it's probably best if I just finish up and go home."

"Nonsense," Jim said. "You gotta eat. Can't beat Mary's pizza."

"You're the crazy one, Jim," Dom said. "Everyone knows Mary's pizza is the worst in the city. The beer and the girls are the only reasons to go."

"All those girls … " TJ prompted.

"Look guys." Dom exhaled heavily. "I really appreciate the invite and all." He looked at TJ and then Jim. "But, I think I'm a little girl shy right now, if you know what I mean."

"We'll have to mark our calendars with that," Jim teased.

Dom threw his pen at Jim. "Get outta here. Let me get this work done."

"If you change your mind, you know where we'll be," TJ said as he and Jim exited up the stairs.

Stepping out into the nice evening, TJ and Jim tacitly decided to walk the three blocks to Crazy Mary's.

"I really think Dom needs to get back on the horse, you know?" TJ said.

"Yeah. He seemed pretty down once all the action was over," Jim agreed.

"Man. I still can't get over you guys in the ceiling. That's crazy, man." TJ shoved Jim, almost making him run into a utility pole.

"Hey!" Jim called, shoving TJ back, nearly having him collide with a tree.

"Was it claustrophobic in there?" asked TJ.

Jim snorted a laugh. "It was a little too intense to even think about that."

"Well, it worked and that's what really counts. Right?" TJ clapped Jim's shoulder.

"Yeah, that's what it comes down to," Jim agreed.

As they walked the final block to Crazy Mary's, Jim discreetly loosened his watchband and slid his watch into his pocket. He just couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had concerning Dom.

"Hey," Jim said, stopping. "I left my watch in my locker. Can you get us a table and I'll be right back." He started back-stepping while tapping his bare wrist.

"Uh, sure," TJ said. "See you in a few."

Jim turned and jogged an easy pace back to the precinct. The building was quiet as the swing shift had already hit the streets. From the top of the steps leading to the SWAT Control Center, he heard their phone ringing and Dom pick up. He paused at the top of the stairs, wondering if SWAT would be called out. After a few moments, Dom hung up the phone – he hadn't said a word. With his uneasy feeling magnified, Jim went down the steps. Dom was standing by his desk looking very pale with oddly blank eyes.

"Hey, Dom," Jim called out. "I, uh, forgot my watch … in my locker."

Dom didn't respond, but kept his blank stare on Jim.

"Sure you don't want to join us?" Jim asked. He palmed his watch and pretended to reach for it inside his locker.

Jim started to turn around, hearing muffled footsteps. He raised his arm defensively when he caught a blur at the edge of his vision. The sharp crack to the side of his head turned his vision black.

#

Dominic Luca felt the change come over his body as soon as the voice on the phone spoke. He couldn't shake the enveloping, strangulating sensation. As the stream of words flowed into his ear, he felt the trigger in his brain click. His limbs trembled; his vision blurred. A single purpose consumed him, blocking out all other thoughts and feelings.

His arm automatically hung up the phone once the voice stopped.

Then Jim came down the steps. With shaking fingers, Dom pulled a paper from the pile on his desk and let it fall to the floor. Now he had to address Jim. His brain screamed at him to take care of Jim. Dom's hand reached for his pistol. Instead, he grabbed the fire extinguisher, lifting it over his head, and rushed to where his teammate stood at his locker. At the last possible moment, as Dom swung the bottom edge of the cylinder at Jim's head, Jim turned slightly and raised his arm to deflect the blow. Dom's momentum won out and, with a sickening crunch, Jim fell to the floor. Dom stood over Jim's still body for a second, sweat stinging his eyes. He dropped the heavy extinguisher and again his hand reached for his pistol.

Dom ran into the armory, took an M16 from the rack and two spare magazines. Without a look back at his prone friend, he sprinted up the steps and out of the building.

#

TJ finished his first beer and glanced at his own watch. He looked out the window and down the sidewalk where Jim should be coming, seeing no one. He sighed loudly and laid his money on the table. Once outside, he, too, jogged back to the precinct.

Halfway down the steps, TJ saw Jim lying in front of his locker. He looked like he was trying to get up, but not doing too well at it.

"Jim!" TJ called, jumping the last three steps.

Jim moaned and had his hand pressed to his head above his ear. Blood smeared his hand, ear, and neck.

"Holy shit, Jim," TJ exclaimed. "What happened?" He helped Jim sit up with his back against the lockers.

"Dom," Jim said, his head swimming. "Dom hit me with something."

TJ whirled around, shielding Jim, and scanned the room. Not seeing Dom, he made his way over to Harrelson's office and searched in there, finding nothing. TJ swept through the desk area and headed for the armory. He noticed immediately that a weapon was missing and extra ammo. Dom was nowhere to be seen.

TJ returned to find Jim attempting to stand. TJ pulled a chair over and guided the swaying Jim into it.

"Sit tight," TJ told Jim. "I need to call the lieutenant."

#

"Thanks, Betty," Deke said as he took the glass of beer from Hondo Harrelson's wife. He turned back to Hondo. "So what was the invite for?"

"What do I ever drag you over here to talk about?" Harrelson asked.

"Okay, which one of them did what?" Deke laughed.

Harrelson got up and paced around the table. "Jim Street."

Watching Harrelson closely, Deke said, "What did he do?"

Harrelson stopped, his hand jangled change in his pocket. "Does he remind you of anyone?"

Deke put his beer down and straightened up in his chair. He watched as Harrelson started pacing again. "Maybe," he said. "Not me. I was never that good looking."

Harrelson laughed and sat down again. "Don't we all wish." He took a swig of his beer. "I sent him into that house alone this morning."

"I noticed that," Deke said.

"I just didn't trust Luca enough yet." Harrelson leaned back in his chair. "I didn't like making that call but I didn't have much choice."

"It worked out," Deke said.

"You read Street's report?" Harrelson asked.

"Yeah," Deke nodded, "his usual thorough job."

"You noticed that he made the decision to take the gunman out."

Deke leaned forward. "What are you getting at?"

Harrelson stood again. "That he made the right decision at the right time taking into account what the situation showed him."

Deke leaned back and smiled. "So you're seeing him as a young Hondo Harrelson?"

Waving his hand dismissively, Harrelson said, "Similarities. Only similarities."

"Right," Deke agreed. "There can only be one Hondo."

"That bank robbery went too smooth, don't you think?" Harrelson said, redirecting the subject.

"We can't rightly complain about that, can we?" Deke asked.

"No, no complaints. More like mind-boggling." Harrelson paced again.

"It was genius," Deke said. "The only chance of getting all the hostages out alive."

"It was crazy, Deke. Crazy. You all had nowhere to go if things went sour. You were trapped." Harrelson ran his hand through his hair.

"Is this about the men or you, Hondo?"

Letting out a deep breath, Harrelson said, "Both, I guess." He sat down again. "This crew is so good I'm afraid I'm taking unreasonable risk with them."

"I was in the ductwork in that bank, Hondo. It was a beautifully engineered and executed plan." He held up his hand when Harrelson started to speak. "Maybe with different personnel it wouldn't have worked. But you knew you could trust us – knew we'd make it work."

"What if I get that wrong?" Harrelson argued.

"Then I'll tell you to make another plan," Deke said. "I've got your back."

Betty Harrelson rushed out to the patio with Harrelson and Deke. "Dan, TJ is on the phone. He says it's urgent."

#

"First," TJ reported to Harrelson, "Dom said he didn't want to go to Crazy Mary's with us. He said he was tired and wanted to finish his reports."

"That's a red flag right there," Harrelson interrupted.

"I didn't really forget my watch," a cleaned up and much steadier Jim reported. "I said I did so that I could check up on Dom. I felt bad leaving him here."

"You shoulda said something, Jim," TJ said. I would've come back with you. It was bugging me, too."

"I thought I could convince him to join us." Jim shrugged.

"That's when you heard the phone ring?" Harrelson asked.

"Yeah. I figured we'd be heading out or his mother was calling again," Jim answered. "But he didn't say anything. Not one word."

"Then you came downstairs," prompted Harrelson.

"Yeah, after he hung up." Jim looked up at Harrelson. "It didn't seem right. Kinda creepy."

"So you waltzed right on down here." Harrelson stated.

"Yes, sir, I did." Jim looked between Harrelson and Deke. "It was Dom."

"Then what?" Harrelson started pacing.

"Dom was standing by his desk with a blank look on his face. His eyes looked different."

"Different? How?" demanded Harrelson.

"They were dull, flat," Jim described. "The Dom spark was gone."

Harrelson frowned. "Then what?"

"I went to my locker, pretending to get my watch. I asked Dom to join us, again." Agitation edged into Jim's voice. "I started to turn around. I heard footsteps, shuffling. And I got clocked."

"That's when you came in, McCabe?" Harrelson asked.

"A little after, I guess. Dom was gone by the time I figured out Jim was later than he should be."

"Where was Street when you got here?"

"In front of his locker, getting up," TJ said.

The getting up part was a stretch and Jim sent TJ an appreciative glance.

"I swept the room, your office, and the armory," TJ continued. "No Dom, but I found a missing M16 and two mags, and then I called you."

"Did Luca say anything about what he was doing or where he was going?" Harrelson asked.

"Not that I heard," Jim said. "He didn't say anything."

"I think our boy left us a message." Deke picked up the piece of paper on the floor by Dom's desk.

Harrelson joined Deke. "What is it?"

"Your notice on the Blackstone escort job. The sheriff department is moving him from the safe-house into town tonight for his testimony Friday."

"I'll call the safe-house. You get the sheriff and tell him we will be out there," ordered Harrelson as he ran into his office.

"Can we do that?" Jim asked TJ.

TJ shrugged. "I think Hondo Harrelson can do pretty much whatever he wants."

"You okay?" Harrelson pointed at Jim.

"Yes, sir," Jim answered.

"Let's go."

#

"There's a lot of wooded area around this house. With the M16, Luca's range is somewhat limited for an accurate hit," instructed Harrelson as they geared up in the back of the War Wagon.

"This is our teammate," Deke said. "We don't know what his agenda is or how out of control he is. I know it's going to be extremely hard to draw down on him." Deke looked at TJ and then Jim. "We can't let him hurt anyone."

"He had his gun at the office," Jim said. "He didn't shoot me."

"He left us that clue, too," TJ added.

"We think it's a clue," cautioned Harrelson.

The lengthy ride to the safe-house location was mostly quiet. Lt. Harrelson had some radio traffic and there were brief conversations over strategy. The War Wagon ran non-Code Three, reflecting the inside silence.

When Sam stopped the van, the team didn't rush out the back. They stepped out into the night. Twenty yards behind them sat Dom's car, hastily parked with the front partially in the bushes.

Harrelson assigned each man a different area to scout. He tapped his belt radio to indicate using the standard radio signals for spotting Dom – one short squawk for Harrelson, one long for Deke, two longs for Street, and three shorts if TJ found him.

#

Hindered with blurring and double vision, Jim slowed. His breathing was heavy when he shouldn't even be winded. He stumbled often, but kept moving.

TJ moved like lightening. He zigged and zagged through his assigned area, pausing at times to listen. He used more caution when he reached the house. With unparalleled stealth, he crept around the house, checking around and through the bushes.

Rounding a shed, Deke could just make out TJ's form as he crossed behind the house – and only because he knew what he was looking for. He looked out across the property and tried to visualize four elite policemen looking for one other that didn't want to be found. With a heavy sigh, he resumed his own search.

Harrelson let his instincts lead him. He ran from one random location to another. He listened often, attempting to discern the natural night sounds from any man made ones.

Dom Luca's stomach ached. Sweat stung his eyes. The dark was disorienting. He stared at the bright windows in the house, waiting for the people to exit. As soon as the people left the house, he could shoot them and go home. He wanted to throw up. Tree bark stabbed in his back, making his skin itch. Soon, he thought, soon.

Jim had been sure that his head was harder than that fire extinguisher. The thousand drums pounding inside his skull told him otherwise. Leaning against a tree, he sank to his knees. He'd rest for just a minute before going on. He could see the house, its lights burning into his dilated pupils.

It looked like an owl sitting up in the tree in front of Jim. He blinked, trying to clear his vision. Now there were two owls. His heart nearly stopped when he realized it was Dom in the tree, not a bird. As quietly as he could, he stood, crouching behind his tree. Obviously, Dom was watching the house. Jim's hand fumbled with his radio and he pressed the button for two long squawks, alerting the others he had Dom in sight. Since they knew his assigned area, they would flock this way.

Eying his tree, Jim saw a heavy branch that crossed over close to Dom's tree. Against his better judgment, he rested his rifle against the tree trunk and swung onto a lower branch. Freezing after every move, he watched for any sign of movement from Dom.

Inching across the branch, Jim barely dared breathe. His vision tunneled, whether from his head injury or intense concentration on this task, he didn't know – or care at this point.

Only three feet behind Dom, Jim saw movement. With jerky motion, Dom withdrew his pistol. Jim froze. Dom's back was still to him so he didn't think he'd been seen.

Dom's stomach clinched painfully. He shook so badly he thought he'd fall from the tree. His head pounded unmercifully. Unable to stand what was happening to him, he drew his gun. He would end this pain and confusion one way or another. He had to shoot someone. He knew who that had to be now.

Even in the dark, Jim saw Dom's shaking hand raise the pistol. Dom didn't point it toward Jim or the house.

"No!" Jim yelled and jumped the three-foot gap. He struck Dom's back at the same time the gun shot. Blinded by the flash, he didn't see the ground rushing at them as they tumbled out of the tree.