Some readers have noticed the discrepancy between the title, Ashes, and the story headings, The Finale. The latter was the working title but I changed it when I posted it. Unfortunately I did not change it before posting the actual page. Thanks to Nannybear for catching my mistake. And no the series is not complete, just this story.

Chapter 4

What did the General say? Were his orders for Garrison or the team? There were no MP's in the hall but they could be inside. Without discussion the cons headed for the exit, the Lieutenant for the office door.

"Where are your men?" demanded the Major once he was inside.

"They've gone outside."

"Don't you ever obey orders? Get them back in here," he demanded then added sourly, "You've got a mission."

Garrison was pleased, though he refrained from showing it. They were still together, acting as a team, doing what they did best. His team was unconventional but it was this that made them so good. Back home they were living at tax payer's expense; here they were earning their keep.

It took half an hour for Garrison to get back outside and find his men. They had lost no time in putting distance between themselves and the possibility of incarceration.

"It's safe to come back inside, we…"

"No." Actor's tone said there was no more to discuss.

Garrison had expected resistance but not abject refusal. He gave the con man the look but he was not backing down.

"Look, I've had dealings with John's before. He was the one who told me we had been disbanded and believe me he was pleased. Now he looks like he has a mouthful of lemons. There were no MP's anywhere."

"I know you believe what you're saying but…" started Goniff.

"Yeah, we trust you, babe…"

"We do not trust Major Johns."

"I understand that. I don't trust him with our lives but…"

"This is our lives," said Actor. "Our freedom is our lives. You have nothing to lose. You can trust him, we, on the other hand, cannot."

Garrison looked to each man. Actor was no longer his second in command. Right now he was his adversary. Casino wore a look of disrespect and Goniff looked slightly fearful. Chief would not meet his eye.

"Chief?"

The Indian lifted his eyes, catching Garrison's momentarily before shifting to Actor's. He was clearly torn, believing Actor's assessment of impending incarceration but pulled by his loyalty to his Hearth.

"Don't you see what you're doin' to the kid. Look at'im," demanded Casino. "You're asking him to give himself up an' go back to those murdering bastards." He glared.

"Casino," said Garrison, "If I thought there was the remotest chance that this was a double cross then we, yes, we would be gone. I told the General I wanted to stay in OSS, that you guys were good. He was looking at my file, reading the reports on our missions before you arrived. He knows we're good."

"Our record isn't spotless. We blew anuff of'm," said Goniff.

"Yeah," put in Casino, "the last two were failures. And they'll pin that Lowry guy's death on us, you wait and see if they don't."

"The last mission was not a failure. Ainsworth is out…"

"That wasn't a mission. That was personal. That was for Chief. I'm talking Army stuff. The safe that blew up and the accident before that."

"Casino, the only team that has never failed is the one that has never been in the field. No one team is perfect. We've missed some but we have also pulled off some that even I was doubtful about. Command knows that we're good. I made sure General Freemont knew that.

"Now think about the way it went," he continued. "We're right there talking to the General. He gets a note and we're sent to Major John's and he briefs us on a mission. The General told Johns to brief us. That's why he was so miserable."

He watched his men. Actor's look had not changed but he was silent. Casino, too, remained quiet, watching. Goniff was looking from Actor to Garrison waiting for someone to move. Chief took a step closer and almost kneeled before Garrison caught his arm. He stepped behind his Hearth's shoulder. Out of sight, he did not see that Chief kept his eyes lowered. He felt he had betrayed his friends.

Actor's face relaxed most of the way. He was still wary. Casino saw the shift and he relaxed to a degree but kept his edge. "If he crosses us…"

Goniff edged around so he was facing the two dark haired men.

"I will not threaten," said Actor leaving the consequences open.

The five men headed back to the building.

Did they have anything to fear? Garrison was confident he had read the situation right. Actor knew he could not con his way out of the building and once in custody he would have a hard time escaping. Maybe he should just surrender and let himself be taken. Once stateside the threat of a little publicity properly handled could lead to his freedom. He was not a threat to society so maybe they would consider this time served and he would be released.

Casino was anxious, anxious for this to be underway though he wished he had a gun. Maybe he could find one to grab. Garrison wasn't carrying so he would have to watch carefully. Would the MP's expect him to jump'm? Hopefully not. The MP's would be armed. He thought back to their hand-to-hand training. How had Garrison told them how to disarm the enemy? Would he have to kill someone? He hoped not. Resisting arrest and assault was beatable or doable but murder… No, that was to be avoided.

Goniff was nervous. What was going to happen? Was this on the level? Actor could talk his way out of anything and Casino, well he was a fighter… That was it. Casino would resist and as soon as he did then he was going to take off. He was quick. As long as there weren't too many people in the halls. The roof, that was where to go. The buildings along here were all linked so as long as got there he could run along to someplace to get down. He had done this before, many times though not this particular building. As long as he watched and was ready, then he would be all right.

Chief walked along behind his Hearth's shoulder. As long as he had his Hearth he would walk to his death. What he feared was losing his Hearth. He would not go quietly, he would fight. He wasn't drugged, starved or weak. This time he would fight to the death, his or someone else's. That was the Apache way. He would fight to stay with his Hearth the way the Guardians of old had fought. And he would die protecting his Hearth.

Garrison felt relieved. Yesterday he thought he and his men were finished, disbanded and scattered. That feeling had torn at his gut. But now they were back together as a team.

As Major Johns began the briefing the Lieutenant knew thatGarrison's Gorillas had risen from the ashes to fight again.