Oahu, Hawaii

2010

Over his 4+ years as a law enforcement officer, Danno Williams had been at the business end of more than a few gun muzzles.

Some of them had been handguns, such as the Jericho 941 handgun Danno had in a firm two handed grip right now.

Others had been rifles- ranging from " squirrel guns " of .22 caliber, up to .223 AR15s. He'd been accosted by belligerent criminals shotguns as well-both pump action, and double barreled, both 12 gauge and 20. He'd even once had someone point a WW2 vintage Lee-Enfield .308 bolt action rifle at him, which'd been one of his more unique experiences to date.

It was a wide range of firepower that'd he'd stared down, that was for sure. As an law officer in the state of New Jersey to boot, after all, it'd been something that had soon become par for the course.

Folks were just fundamentally violent, as Danno had to remind himself often; otherwise, there wouldn't be much requirement for police in the first place. Those weapons had been brandished at him by a wide range of folks. Some had been loud, and, yes, unstably violent. Others had been chillingly methodical, and in control.

All of them, though, were crooks and criminals; that was something they all had in common.

Even so, however, there were some of them, the ones that you encountered who were armed, that just stood out with their action, criminals or not.

They were the ones who didn't flinch when confronted. The ones who you weren't quite sure what to peg as: crook, or an unknown quantity.

The scruffy looking man standing at the other end of the garage they were both standing in seemed to fit that category.

Who also happened to be aiming a weapon at him: an HK45, to be exact.

Danno had entered the garage seconds ago, to find this man already in it ! He had a small cardboard box with him, and he was leaving with it !

By pure reflex and thought, he'd drawn his weapon.

But, that other man was fast too. He'd gotten his own firearms out as well, with impressive speed- trained speed, Danno could tell. Some men drew their weapons hastily and sloppily, while others drew them with smooth precision.

Such as whoever this one was.

And, now they were deadlocked. There was so much stillness in the room, one could hear the proverbial pin drop.

Well, you could've, if it wasn't for all the yelling.

" Put your weapon down ! ", the other man barked, with a suspiciously military- crisp directness. " Lower it ! "

Danno felt spikes of anger rise. Who was this scruffy looking cattle herder ( who sounded a bit like a solider, oddly ) to tell him what to do ?! He hated it when anyone who had no mark of authority did that; even those who did have that weren't his favorite, but from someone who didn't-

" You put yours down ! ", he shot back, keeping his Jericho 941 raised and aimed.

" I am Detective Danny Williams, HPD ! This is police business ! "

" Of course it is ! ", countered the other man. " Because your word is all I need. "

" Must I say this again ? Lower that gun ! "

They were deadlocked, it seemed.

The other man, whoever he was, didn't show any hint of backing down. His handgun was pointed directly at Danno, and if the steady stance he was maintaining was anything to go by, he would virtually certainly not miss if he fired.

Which was fine, because Danno had a good bead on him as well, and he knew for a fact that he was no wildshot with a weapon ( not like Jennifer back at the academy- that noob always missed every other target )

Still, that'd leave himself gunned down as well, if it came to that. Which was an outcome he was keen to prevent.

But, perhaps-

" Didn't you hear me ?! Put. It. Down ! ", shouted the other man.

" Not before you ! "

This calls for taking a risk. Let's see if I can't defuse this

He'd have to be careful, though. One wrong move, one wrong word, and this entire situation would explode.

Or maybe it'd be the other man's fault, in which case: so be it.

" I am Detective Danny Williams, HPD . ", Danno stated again, more slowly now.

" I will show my ID now. What about yours ? "

Danno gradually began to move his right hand toward his badge, clipped to his belt, while keeping his left around the grip of his weapon.

" No sudden moves ", the other man warned.

But, he also began to reach for what Danno suspected ( not assumed, because assumptions were dangerous ) was his own ID. Evidently, he also thought along similar lines.

" Same to you ", Danno retorted.

It was odd; like a wild west duel in reverse.

Danno didn't take his eyes of the handgun pointed at him, and he kept his own on target. The other man mirrored both moves. Clearly, neither of them was willing to let their guard down.

As we should.

Danno grasped his badge, pulled it off, and held it up.

The other man was holding up a ID card. It was US Military issue, Danno noted.

That confirms it. This guy's a solider. But, he seems like a wildcard already.

Who is-

Then Danno noted the name on the card.

" Commander Steve McGarrett ? ", he read.

" That's right ", the other man confirmed, focusing on Danno's badge.

" Detective Daniel Williams , eh ? So, it's actually true, then. "

The moment was now a big step down on the tension ladder. Now that each of them knew who he was dealing with, Danno decided he could actually lower his weapon now.

As long as the other- as long as Steve did.

" You still have your weapon on me ", he pointed out.

" Well, lower both of them then. Ready ? ", Steve offered.

That seemed reasonable.

" Allright. "

A second or so went by.

" Now, allright ?. "

As Steve said it, he slowly lowered his weapon, until it was pointed at the ground, and held in one hand, not both. Danno did the same.

Well, things were not imminently about to go lethal for them, at least. And, Danno wasn't dealing with either a criminal, or some random citizen with a gun.

On the other, though, what was a US Navy sailor doing here ?!

Now's when I have to put my officer on

" What ? What're you doing in my father's garage ? ", demanded Steve. He didn't sound hostile, per se, but very much suspicious, and even a tad cold.

Which, retrospectively, Danno realized he should've anticipated. This was John McGarret's garage, after all. This Steve must be his son.

" What brought you home ? "

Danny usually didn't answer questions with questions, but it could serve a purpose sometimes. With some individuals, it could get them to be honest and blunt with you, which usually involved getting answers from them.

Especially with military members.

" Its my house, not yours ",. Steve narrowed his eyes. " Why don't you tell me why you're in it ? "

So, this Steve was already proving to be a stubborn mule, and they'd known each other for less than 3 minutes.

Not an auspicious sign.

Fair enough question,though.

" John McGarrett was murdered today ", Danno stated, as tactfully as he could, now keenly aware of who he was speaking with. In all likelihood, Steve was aware of that his father had died, but it didn't hurt to treat this carefully.

" Why do you think I am here ?!", Steve replied, with the briefest moment of pain showing through as he spoke. Obviously, he didn't want to grieve in front of someone he hardly knew.

" I have to put together how it all happened. Why else would I look around in his garage ?! He must've left something for me ".

At this point, Steve gestured to the box that sat on a shelf by his left elbow. The box that Danno had spotted him taking with him when he'd first arrived.

" And I found it, ok ? Its mine, understand ? "

Again, that was a fair point. This was his house- by extension of it being his father's house-, and needless to say, anything in it belonged to him. On top of that, if if he was seeking to uncover all the details behind his father's death, that gave him even more cause to be here, and to search it as much as he thought he had to.

Which was why Danno wasn't thrilled with what he had to say next:

" Steve- "

" Not on a first name basis here, Detective "

" Allright. Mr McGarrett, allright. I get that this is yours- this whole place, and certainly that box- ", Danno gestured to it quickly. " is yours.

" Good- "

" But, as I said, this is an HPD case. That's why I am here, comprende ? We're looking into this as well. "

" So, I need that box. "

Danno said that as protocol and regs dictated, but he didn't realistically expect it to convince Steve of anything. His initial, rudimentary assessment of this Steve McGarrett told him that he wasn't the kind to not oppose a call that he didn't agree with. Everything about him seemed to say that.

Danno was soon proven right.

" You're off it ", Steve bluntly replied. " I don't care if the Governor herself sent you here. Get off my lawn. "

Perhaps I lowered my weapon too soon

With that thought lingering on his mind, Danno didn't budge.

" This is a police matter. And, you, unless you have a badge tucked somewhere I don't know about, are not in law enforcement ! So, on what grounds are you refusing ? "

Steve's eyes flashed for a moment, with both anger and astonishment.

" On what- listen, Detective ", he snapped. " Do I have to repeat myself ? This. Is. My. House. "

" And, I have a warrant to search it. "

It was the moment to pull that out, if there ever was one.

Danno pulled it into view, and held it up.

" Here's your proof. I can't let you leave with that box. The HPD is taking it as its case dictates "

He rattled it off in a brisk, matter of protocol kind of way, deciding that as Steve still was a military member, appealing to his sense of discipline, and respect for official channels.

As he was about to find out, though-

" I won't say this again: Go. What, you have sea salt jamming your ears ?"

Now, Steve actually jabbed a finger at him, punctuating the point. And, being a smartass, to add to it all.

Well, so be it. If he wanted to escalate things-

Danno put a hand on his weapon, after he was certain Steve could see that.

" Mr McGarrett, I am asking you once more, to hand over that box. "

Steve glared at him, jaw set.

Danno was aware that things could go wrong now- after he'd just gotten them right- but he couldn't let anything get in the way of carrying out his task.

Even a Navy sailor who wanted to hunt down those who'd murdered his father.

Exactly how, though, remained to be seen.

" Fine. You want it play it this way ? "

Steve quasi threat annoyed Danno as much as it puzzled him.

" Play it what way-? "

Rather than saying anything, Steve just whipped out a smartphone.

In nanoseconds, he'd speed dialed a number, and put the phone up to his left ear.

For a another full second and two, nothing happened as it rang.

Is he calling the department ?, an incredulous Danno wondered. That's the same as some irate customer at McDonalds demanding to speak with the manager !

" Hello ? Hello ? Yes, its me ", Steve affirmed.

Wait. He knows someone there ?!

Danno slowly took his hand off his weapon, but he remained on alert. This didn't add up.

" Governor ? Yes, Commander McGarrett speaking here. "

What ? Governor Jameson herself !?

Danno couldn't believe it. How could this Navy man just know the state Governor ?

This had to be some kind of ploy.

" Is that offer still standing ? Yes ? Allright. I've decided to take it. "

" Yes, I will transfer to the Reserves. "

By now, Danno was in full speculative mode.

Allright, so this Steve McGarrett, US Navy, evidently had connections high up in the state government; all the way to the top, it seemed. Part of Danno still didn't believe it, that he actually knew Jameson, let alone that she'd offered him some kind of position. On the other, though-

If this actually is real, then HPD has to be involved. Wait. They'd have told me.

What's going on ?!

He was pulled from his mental contemplation by Steve loudly reciting some kind of service vow.

" I solemnly swear, to execute the obligations of the post I am about to take- "

Uh oh.

That sound a lot like he actually was taking some kind of official position ! Offered by the Governor ?!

Allright. I have to know exactly what's going down here.

" You know the Governor ? ! "he demanded. " What, you've been keeping that in your back pocket all along ?! "

Wonderful. As if he didn't have enough unknowns in all of this.

But, once again, he was interrupted, when Steve finished his call, clicked the phone off, and put it away.

He turned back to Danno, and grinned triumphantly. Or, as Danno saw it, smugly.

" Great news ! " Steve declared.

" You are now NOT the only law enforcement officer in the room. "

It was a grand total of 4 seconds, before the full ramifications of what Steve had just said settled fully onto Danno.

This man- wait, no, no, no. The Governor just gave him authority ?

Just like that ? To do what ?

Steve hefted the box, and grinned again, while Danno finally remembered to close his somewhat-open-from astonishment mouth.

What ?

" Relax, Danny " Steve assured him, as he turned to leave.

" I get the feeling we'll be working again soon. "