Jaz reluctantly finished her breakfast, casting not so surreptitious sidelong glances down the airport corridor. Where was he? Had she really completely misread the last six months? They had grown so close this past year. Deployment tended to do that - when you're forced into close quarters with the same three people for two years at a time and then tossed into high stress, dangerous situations in which you need each other to survive, you tend to get close.

But Jaz had sensed something...different this time. Adam had opened up his heart about his past. He rarely gave anyone on the team a glimpse into those things that had formed who he was today. Even Preach, who had known him for over a decade, wasn't privy to much information regarding Adam's past. But he had willingly volunteered it to Jaz.

Amir observed Jaz with concern filled eyes. He knew how much their captain meant to her and though he hadn't noticed much of anything last night (besides how Hannah was completely ravishing in that deep green dress), this morning's absence was uncharacteristic. Top was loyal, and punctual for that matter. There had to be a good reason for not showing up. Still, Amir could only imagine how much it sucked for Jaz.

McG had kept his phone out throughout breakfast, ready for any contact from Hannah or Adam. It lay loudly silent the entire time.

Finally Jaz dragged herself from the chair, defeatedly gathering her bags. "Guys, thanks for being here. I know it was a sacrifice to get up early this morning after last night."

Though the humor didn't quite reach her eyes, McG and Amir both chuckled at her joke. That last line had been delivered drier than a desert.

"Of course, sis." McG wrapped her in a warm, full hug, squeezing her small frame fondly. "Enjoy your leave, but don't get too soft, or I'll have to whoop your ass when we ship out."

Jaz rolled her eyes and slugged him playfully. As if!

Next was Amir's turn to say goodbye. He didn't particularly like goodbyes, especially not for someone who had come to remind him so much of his sister. Amir took Jaz's shoulders in each of his hands and gave them a firm squeeze. "Jaz. Take care of yourself."

"You too, Amir," Jaz put one hand on his. "Thanks for...working through all the crap I gave you this year. I'm...I'm glad to have you on our team."

Amir simply smiled at her, grateful to be beyond the annoyance and frustration. He was glad to be on the team too.

The two men stood outside the restaurant and watched the lone female member of their team jog toward security. She had pushed it for time, never losing hope that Adam would somehow appear, and now she had to make it up.

"Well, Amir, my flight's not until Thursday...and I think there may still be a girl or two in my hotel room. You wanna join me?" His eyes sparkled, knowing what his answer would be.

Amir rolled his eyes and turned to the corridor leading to the entrance of the airport. "No thanks, Joseph. I'm heading to the Mosque for proper prayers today, and I have a date tonight." Though his smile was understated, the excitement it concealed was not. "Let me know when you hear from Top?"

"Will do, as long as he's not dead...and if he's not, I may just kill him first!" McG quipped in frustration.

Amir left the airport with a final salute to McG. The terminal was picking up in activity. A low buzz of talking, bags clacking on the floor, and kids playing by the big window comforted McG - the civilian sounds meant he was home.

He'd lied to Amir. The girls were gone from the hotel - they'd left sometime in the wee hours of the morning. McG found a bench near the front revolving door and settled into it, eyes focused on finding one man, phone still in his hand, ready for a call.

The phone finally rang, startling McG so sharply that he dropped it. Snatching it up, he answered, "Top, is that you?"

"No, McG. It's Patricia."

"Oh! Sorry, ma'am. Have you heard from Captain Dalton?"

"I have. I visited his hotel room. McG, I'm going to give you some sensitive information that I'd rather you not share with Jaz. Is she around?"

"No ma'am, she went through security about twenty minutes ago."

"Good. McG, I'm sure you've noticed the ... intensity ... of Jaz and Adam's relationship."

McG frowned. What? Intensity of their relationship?

Patricia went on, "Adam spent the night in his hotel room with a girl from the club last night." She paused.

McG nodded in mutual camaraderie. So had he...well, basically.

"I'm confused, ma'am. What does that have to do with Jaz?" McG racked his brain, searching for a connection.

"McGuire. Have you not picked up on the fact that Jaz and Adam both have been flirting with the line of appropriate platonic behavior between captain and soldier for quite some time now? I mean, I saw it back in Afghanistan at the prison. You've been with them day in and day out for months, you can't tell me you didn't notice." Her voice was incredulous.

Realization finally dawned. McG's eyebrows shot up and his eyes stared unseeing at the airport floor. "Ohhhhh."

Damn. Top had really done it this time. And McG had encouraged him in his pursuit of those girls last night. McG could kick himself.

"Hold on, Director. I see him coming in." McG closes the phone and stood to intercept Adam.

Adam sprinted past McG, not even noticing the medic's presence. He bypassed bag check and raced toward security, hefting two small bags on his shoulder.

"Top!" McG called, to no avail. He shook his head and headed toward security. Perhaps he could catch him in the line.

McG called Adam's name several times but every time it seemed to fall on deaf ears. Soon the blond man was at the conveyor belt, filling the buckets with his two bags. He walked into the X-ray machine and stood spread eagle impatiently.

Suddenly all sorts of alarms went off and McG was passed by a handful of police officers and TSA agents. Shouts rang out and McG began to spring into action before remembering he was in civilian attire and on home soil. Top was kneeling on the ground, this side of security with his hands interlocked behind his head. His eyes were closed and he didn't resist the least, even when the officers around him shoved his face to the ground. It was like the man had given up.

McG watched as Dalton's personal weapon was lifted gingerly from his concealed holster. He decided it might be wise to stick around and provide a character witness if needed. He shook his head again. The man on the ground was crazy. Crazy in love, apparently.