Guardian

Summary: What happens when Grace's world falls apart while Danny is in New Jersey handling some family business? Will Steve prove to be the guardian the little girl needs?

Set around early Season 3.

A/N: Updated with minor edits. This plot bunny took on a life of its own. Hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and make no money doing this. I'm just having fun playing with them.

Prologue

"Danno, do you have to go?" Grace clung to her father as he knelt to give her a final hug on the front steps of Stan and Rachel's home.

"It'll only be for a few days, Monkey. I should be here to pick you up from school on Friday." Looking over her shoulder, the detective gave his partner a pleading look. He usually didn't have to travel without her, but on the rare occasion he did, she usually wasn't quite so worried about it.

"Gracie." Steve squatted down next to two of the most important members of his ohana. "Danno will be back soon, but if you need anything while he's gone you can always call me. I'm just a phone call away if you need me to come."

The little girl nodded, tears still streaking her face. Finally releasing her father, she wrapped her arms around the Seals neck. "Thanks, D… Uncle Steve."

The front door opened to reveal a rather tired looking Rachel. "Come on Grace. Your father needs to finish getting ready for his trip." As the girl trudged into the house, the woman turned to the two men. "Have a safe trip, Danny. Steve, I'll try not to let her call you too often. I know you're busy."

Steve's eyes darkened a bit at her comment. "Let her call as much as she wants. I'll make time for Gracie."

Chapter 1

Staring at the empty office where his partner should be, Steve struggled with an uneasy feeling. It was Wednesday; Danno would be back in two more days.

The seal looked down at his phone. Grace had called him Sunday night after they had dropped her off and again both before and right after school on Monday. Maybe the little girl had gotten over her initial upset at Danny leaving for a few days, but Steve couldn't shake the feeling that the lack of phone calls since Monday wasn't because she felt better.

He hoped that Rachel hadn't followed through on her comment about keeping Grace from calling. Picking up the phone, he decided to make a quick call. After several rings, it went to voicemail.

"Rachel, its Steve. Hadn't heard from Gracie since Monday and wanted to see how she's doing. If you don't mind, I'd like to pick her up from school and hang out for a bit. I'll have her home by dinner. Just give me a call and let me know if that's okay."

Disconnecting the call, he decided to go see what the cousins were staring at on the big screen. It was a quiet week, so they'd decided to dig into a cold case.

Stepping outside his office, his phone rang. Hopefully it was Rachel giving him the green light. Glancing at the screen he was surprised to see caller ID showing Academy of the Sacred Hearts. Why was Grace's school calling him?

"This is Commander McGarrett." His tone was wary, causing Chin and Kono to look up at him.

"Commander, this is Ms. Jones from Academy of the Sacred Hearts. I'm sorry to bother you, but you are listed as the primary emergency contact for Grace Williams."

Steve's mind instantly filled with all the things that could have happened to her at school. "Is Grace okay?" At his question the rest of the team stiffened, their interest in his conversation multiplying.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. Grace was here on Monday and though she was upset about her father traveling appeared to be okay; however, we haven't seen her since then. Her parents are usually very good about calling us to let us know if she will be absent, but we've heard nothing from them. I tried to call Rachel yesterday and received no answer. Today I tried every number we have listed for Grace's parents and still got nothing."

A feeling of dread crept over Steve. Something was definitely off about this situation. If Grace were sick, her mother would have called. She'd learned that the best way to cheer the little girl up when she didn't feel well was to call in Five-0, especially Steve. Rachel wouldn't just pull Grace out of school without a reason and it wasn't like her to go off the grid.

"Thank you for calling me. I haven't spoken to Grace since Monday, but was planning to get her after school today. I'll head over to her mother's house now and make sure everything is okay. Call if you hear anything from them and I'll do the same when I have any information."

Before the call was finished, the Seal was headed out the building, the look on his face causing anyone in his path to scatter. Chin and Kono followed in his wake. Whatever had happened, he wasn't going alone.

Hitting buttons on his phone, Steve wasn't sure if he hoped Danny would answer or that it would go to voicemail. He had no actual information, but there would be hell to pay later if he didn't tell his partner something was amiss.

Voicemail picked up and the Seal spoke. "Danny, call me as soon as you get this." There was nothing else to say, no other news he could give at this point.

"Steve," Kono caught up with him as they approached the vehicles. "What's going on?"

Seeing the concern in her eyes, he shook his head. "I don't know, but I'm going to Rachel's to find out."

Opening the door to her car, as Steve rounded his truck, her reply left no room for argument. "We'll be right behind you."

With nothing else left to say, vehicle doors slammed as their engines came to life. Seconds later the Five-0 team was heading on to the street, lights flashing.

What felt like hours later, but was truly only a few moments, Steve pulled his big blue truck up to the gate to Rachel's house. Pushing the button on the keypad, he waited impatiently for a response that never came. Undaunted, he quickly keyed in the code she'd given him and waited for the gate to open.

Proceeding toward the house, his eyes took in the area. Nothing appeared out of place. No visible windows were broken and the door was still closed, but the seemingly normal appearance didn't relieve the fear in his stomach.

Stopping in front of the house, he quickly exited the truck and met the cousins at the bottom of the steps. Drawing his sidearm, his eyes met Chin's and he saw confusion and worry.

"Something is up. Grace has been MIA for 2 days and nobody is answering calls."

The trio cautiously approached the front door, listening for any clues to what they would find within. Hearing nothing, Steve rang the doorbell. On the off chance every alarm going off on his head was wrong; he didn't want to scare Rachel to death by knocking in her door.

A muffled sound came from inside before things fell silent again. Someone was home. Banging on this door this time, Steve hollered at the occupants. "Rachel! Stan! Somebody open up!"

"Go away!" A voice that somewhat resembled Stan hollered.

Stepping back from the door, Steve took a second to look at the other two members of his team. Receiving a nod from both, he let loose a powerful kick, sending the door flying open.

Guns drawn, the three quietly approached the sounds coming from the kitchen. Rounding the corner, McGarrett froze in place. "Shit." The word came out as a whisper. Not ten feet in front of him, Rachel's lifeless body was crumpled next to the kitchen island. Her head in a pool of blood.

Now on even higher alert, he motioned for the other two to stay with him as they moved forward.

Entering the room, he quickly spotted Stan leaning haphazardly against the counter, a mostly empty bottle of scotch in his hand, one eye swollen shut.

"Stan, where is Grace?" There was nothing he could do for Rachel, but he had to hope that the girl was still okay.

"The little bitch hit me," he drunkenly gestured to his eye.

"Where is she, Stan." The Seal continued his slow approach toward the man. The cousins watched behind him, their boss appeared coiled to strike at the slightest provocation. Given the body on the floor and the danger to the girl they all loved, they wouldn't stop him.

"She locked herself in the upstairs bath. Haven't seen her since Monday night, but the door was still locked last I checked." His voice slurred.

Barely controlled rage rolled off the Seal as he took a menacing step toward the smaller man.

"If she's hurt…." His threat was interrupted by Chin's voice.

"Steve. Grace." The man's voice was quiet, but was enough to refocus the deadly man on his primary objective. Find Grace. "Kono's calling this in and I'll be happy to deal with him. You have to find Grace." The Hawaiian was smart enough to know that if she was scared the only one that would be able to convince her she was safe was Steve.

Nodding his head, Steve wheeled around and ran from the room. Taking the stairs three at a time, he rushed toward the bathroom door.

"Grace!" He yelled frantically as he approached the door. Reaching it, he tried the handled and found it still locked. "Gracie, open up. You're safe now."

He heard a small shuffling noise followed by a large crash.

Not stopping to wait for any further response, Steve slammed his shoulder into the door, holding the handle to ensure it didn't swing widely and hurt Grace.

The sight in front of him fed his rage. The girl that was Danny's entire world and was like a daughter to him was crumpled on the tile floor her shirt and skirt ripped leaving exposing the brutal bruises across her arms and stomach.

Crossing the space between them in two long strides and dropping to his knees, he carefully pulled her to him as a sob escaped her small body.

"Steve, you came." She choked out as he held her closer.

"Of course I came. I'll always come for you." He reassured the terrified child.

Footsteps behind him caused him to look up. "Steve, Duke and the rest of the gang are here. They sent a bus in case we needed it." The unspoken question was clear and the small nod from the Seal provided the answer.

Hearing the other man's voice, Grace tried to hide cover herself better with her torn shirt. Fear and shock seemed to override her ability to recognize her Uncle Chin.

Sensing her unease, Steven motioned for the other man to leave the room and appreciated his immediate compliance despite the pained look on his face.

Looking around the room, he quickly realized the hand towels wouldn't work to cover Grace. He started to release her, but his motion halted as her small hand gripped the t-shirt covering his chest tighter.

"It's okay Gracie. I'm not going anywhere. I just need to take my button up shirt off so you can wear it." A few seconds later, she released her hold and sat up slightly, still leaning against him as she winced in pain.

Making quick work of pulling the shirt off his shoulders, he swung it around and draped it over the young girl's back. He was impressed when she managed to push her arms through the appropriate holes and wrap it more snuggly around herself.

"Grace, I'm going to pick you up. Kono called an ambulance and I need to get you out there. Just keep your eyes closed and we'll be out there in no time."

Nodding her head, she clung to the large man as he lifted her easily. He was relieved when she tucked her head against his chest and closed her eyes. He didn't want her to have to see the scene in the kitchen. Hopefully she hadn't already seen it.

Striding out of the room and down the stairs, he met the silent, pained gazes of the other officers. He nodded in silent thanks when he noticed the hastily formed wall of bodies blocking any view of Rachel's body.

Less than a minute later, Grace was placed on the waiting gurney, still clinging to Steve's hand.

The paramedics made no move to separate him from the girl and worked quickly around him to secure their young patient. The Seal did his best to make it easy for them to load her into the ambulance while maintaining contact with her.

Before the doors shut, Kono appeared. "We'll meet you at the hospital." Stepping back, she slammed the doors so they could pull away.