"Coffee, Captain?" Taylor poured a cup of hot coffee from a Thermos and Benson took it gratefully. The car was too cold even with the heat on full blast. Benson was a Californian, cold was not his thing. Staking out a restaurant in Chicago on Thanksgiving day was not his thing, not when he could be back at his folk's house watching the game with his dad while his mom pressed him to just one more piece of pumpkin pie.

But if this worked out then it might be the last time he had to do this. Taylor had started the surveillance of Mrs Baracus several days ago. Lynch usually just watched her house on Thanksgiving or Christmas day and waited for Baracus to show up. He never had.

A couple of nights ago Mrs Baracus had left her home, carrying a small suitcase and gone to a hotel. So Lynch's approach would have meant they'd have been staking out an empty house. Thursday afternoon she had come out, got into a cab and arrived at the restaurant that Taylor and Benson were now outside of, in an unmarked car.

They had a man inside, lurking in the kitchen. Other men were all around the area, but out of sight. If Baracus did show up Taylor didn't want him scared off. It was going to be a lot easier taking him in the restaurant than chasing him through the icy streets.

Benson glanced at his watch. Almost six. He hoped this wasn't a wild goose chase. Maybe Mrs Baracus was just meeting friends or other family members. But if that was the case why had she been hiding out in that hotel for a couple of days?

Then a voice came over the radio.

"Station 3 here. It's him. He's making his way though the back alleys, probably heading for the kitchen door. Over."

"You're sure it's him?" Benson asked.

"He's hard to mistake."

That was true.

"Station 1," Taylor called their man inside. "He may be coming in via the kitchen, keep a low profile."

"Roger."

"Everybody stand by."

Benson glanced at Taylor. She had a small smile on her face. Of anticipation perhaps. Waiting to spring the trap. Benson's dad had been a hunter, had taught him that a good hunter didn't chase the prey, but went where the prey would come to and waited. Taylor was obviously one of the same sort. Young Nathan had lacked the patience to be really good at the ambush tactic. He found himself tapping his foot now, eager to get on with it.

In a few moments Station 1 announced that Baracus had indeed come into the restaurant through the kitchen and was now in the dining room with his mother.

"Prepare to move in." Benson said, breathing a little faster. So close, they were so close.

"Belay that." Taylor said, frowned at him. "Stand by and wait for my signal. Out."

She put down the mic and sat back in her seat.

"Don't be so eager. Baracus isn't going anywhere for a couple of hours at least. Let them have their dinner."

"But, ma'am..."

"Tell me, Captain, how do you feel after you've had your Thanksgiving dinner? Feel like doing a lot of running and jumping do you?"

Benson grinned. Smart. Standing between Baracus and his dinner? Potentially fatal move. Tackling Baracus after he'd eaten a whole turkey? Better move. He saw Taylor settle down, snuggling into her coat. Benson sipped coffee and resigned himself to a long wait.

~~~~

"Another piece of pecan pie, baby?"

BA groaned. He didn't think he could eat another crumb. He wasn't sure he could actually move. But it was good pie. And what's one more piece?

"Okay, Mama. You order it, I'll be back in a second." He got out of his chair with another groan. One problem about eating a Thanksgiving dinner in a restaurant, he couldn't loosen his pants after. On the other hand he didn't have to help with the washing up.

As BA came back from the bathroom he stood aside to let a waiter pass and walk through the swing door into the kitchen. And BA saw him. Just for a second, as the door swung closed again, a man in the kitchen speaking into a walkie talkie. Their eyes locked together before the door closed.

BA ran. He ran to his mother's table. Mrs Baracus rose as he ran over and embraced her.

"Scooter?"

"I love you, Mama." He kissed her on the cheek. "Sorry!" And then he turned and ran towards the fire exit he'd already seen at the back of the restaurant.

"Scooter!"

The front door slammed back and BA heard yelling. He didn't slow down. He charged the fire exit and smashed it open. The cold poured over him like a bucket of ice water as he ran outside into the darkness. MPs were waiting for him as he came out and he hit them like a bowling ball slamming into the pins, scattering them.

The back alleys or the street? They had to expect him to take the back alleys. But there was also an alley up the side of the building to the street. And he had more chance of grabbing a car on the the street.

He ran for the alley, skidding on ice and trash as he took the corner, bounced off the opposite wall. Ran on through the dark towards the street lights. The sounds of pursuit followed, men yelled at him to halt.

A gunshot rang out and BA gasped, expecting the impact of a bullet in the back. But the shot must have been into the air. His own gun was in the pocket of his jacket back in the restaurant. There'd been no time to grab it. He'd hated even bringing it there, having it anywhere near his Mama.

Another figure came up the alley towards him. BA prepared to charge them down.

"Halt! Military Police." The figure passed into the light from a window and BA skidded to a stop. Not because of the gun pointing at him. But because it was a woman pointing a gun at him. She wore civilian clothes, topped with a Parker, but held out her ID in her left hand.

This must be her, he thought. Taylor. She stood between him and the street. Unless she shot him he could swat her aside as easily as a rag doll. And if she'd been a six foot man he'd have done just that. But the last time he'd raised his hand to anyone female had been in first grade and that had earned him a walloping he still remembered to this day.

"On the ground, Baracus," she ordered, her breath misting in the freezing air. BA hesitated. The men behind him were close, but he could still get past her if she didn't shoot him.

She fired. Over his head.

"I'll wing you if I have to! On the ground now!"

And then the men behind caught up.

~~~~

Taylor came into the restaurant dining room after BA was secured. Benson waited for her.

"Get his coat," Taylor ordered him. "Search the pockets."

"Yes ma'am."

"I want to talk to the man in charge!" Mrs Baracus was the only one of the restaurant patrons still in the dining room. Waiters moved around, tidying up tables that had been knocked over when the MPs charged into the room.

"That's me, ma'am, Colonel Taylor." Taylor shed her Parker and went up to Mrs Baracus, offering her hand.

"You? Oh..." Mrs Baracus shook the hand mechanically, taken aback.

"Please, sit down, Mrs Baracus." Taylor gestured at one of the MPs who handed a chair over. Mrs Baracus ignored it.

"Where's my son?"

"He's been apprehended outside. He's in custody now."

"I..." Her voice faltered a tiny bit. "I heard gunshots..."

"He's not hurt." Taylor said quickly. "No one was hurt."

"Oh... good." The anger came back into Mrs Baracus's voice. "I want to see him."

"I'm sorry, no."

Mrs Baracus gave her a fierce glare but it had no effect on the colonel. Benson came over and stood by Taylor. He had BA's coat in his hands. Mrs Baracus eyed it.

"That's Bosco's coat? I'll take that..." She reached towards it. Benson backed off a step, out of her reach. He'd already been on the receiving end of a couple of hefty whacks from Mrs Baracus's purse when they had charged into the restaurant, so staying out of her reach was a priority for him.

"I'm sorry, no," Taylor repeated.

Mrs Baracus fumed, scowling down at Taylor.

"What happens now? Does he get a lawyer?"

"Yes. We'll provide one, or if you want to send you own..." She took a pen from her pocket and turned to a nearby waiter. "Give me your order pad." She wrote on the pad and tore off the page, gave it to Mrs Baracus. "Call this number. They'll make the arrangements."

Mrs Baracus put the paper in her purse. "Am I free to go?"

"Yes. One of my men can drive you home."

"I'll get a cab." Mrs Baracus snapped and turned towards the door, then stopped and turned back.

"Colonel... Thank you for letting us finish our dinner." She turned and marched out of the restaurant. Taylor watched her leave then turned to Benson.

"Maintain the surveillance on her. Baracus is on his way to the base now?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Anything useful in his coat pockets?

"A luggage locker key. Union Station. No train ticket though. And a loaded 9mm."

"All right, have a man pick up whatever's in the locker."

"Yes, ma'am. And congratulations on the capture, Colonel."

"Thank you, Captain. But don't get ahead of yourself, this job is not finished yet."