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Kono arrives at the office first, which is rare. Normally Steve is there before anyone else, sorting through cold cases or following up on leads or filling out paperwork. As a cop, there is always more paperwork to do, especially when leading such exciting lives as they do.
She considers this anomaly for a brief second, before dismissing it. Steve's probably busy with Danny or something, and will show up any minute. They'll probably be arguing over some mundane topic, such as the best way to cut a slice of pizza, or what action movie is the all-time greatest. Fears assuaged, she heads to her own office to fill out this month's expense report.
Chin comes in a half hour later, with Lou not far behind him. She adds her signature to the completed expense report, before meeting them in the main space. Her cousin is sorting through last night's reports from HPD, catching up on island crime. Lou is sipping on some coffee, looking tired enough to fall asleep standing up.
"Where's McGarrett and Williams?" Lou wonders.
Kono shrugs.
"I have no clue. They weren't here when I got here this morning."
"Probably just running late, stopping to get damn malasadas or something," Lou theorizes.
"I'll give them a call, see what's going on," Chin volunteers. He calls Steve first, but the call goes straight to voicemail. Frowning, he calls Danny next, but that call goes straight to voicemail as well.
"Both went straight to voicemail."
"Try tracking their cells," Kono suggests.
Chin does so, but both phones have been turned off. Next, he attempts tracking their cars, but the Camaro and the truck appear to be at their respective residences.
"Lou and I'll swing by their houses, see if maybe they're sick and forgot to call in. Chin, you call the Governor, let her know that 5-0 is temporarily down two men."
Xxxx
"You don't really think that they forgot to call in, do you?" Lou questions. Kono glances at him briefly, then returns her focus to the road.
"No, but it's better than any of the other options."
They stop by Steve's house first, noting that the front door appears to be intact, and that the truck is, in fact, in the driveway. Kono knocks on the front door, while Lou circles around back. Silence comes from inside, therefore she knocks again, before using her key to gain entry.
Nothing has been disturbed, the house as pristine as always. Steve's and Danny's badges, guns, cell phones, wallets, and passports are on the kitchen table, along with a note. With shaking hands, she picks it up and reads:
Chin, Kono, and Lou,
Danny and I are taking a leave of absence from 5-0. We can't tell you why, we can only tell you that we left together. This isn't much of an explanation, and we will explain everything once we get back. We just don't know when that'll be.
Please do not look for us.
We love you all.
Mahalo and aloha,
Steve and Danny.
Her heart drops. Stunned, she scans the note, disbelieving of its words. Everything was fine last night, so what happened in 12 hours to lead to this? Why would they feel the need to strip themselves off all identification, cut all ties with their lives in Oahu?
Lou comes in then, sees her standing at the table. Silently, she passes him the note, mind whirring with confusion. She cannot figure out any possible reason as to why they would have gone to ground so suddenly.
"I'm gonna call Chin, let him know what's going on. I'll have him search through Danny and Steve's financials, cell records-the works. There's gotta be something in there that'll tell us what's going on. In the meantime, why don't you start searching around, looking for what could have made them leave. Look for threatening mail, bank statements, wills, anything. There's gotta be something," Kono instructs Lou.
Lou gives her a doubtful glance.
"It is Steve we're talking about here. There very well could be nothing to find."
Kono sighs, because Lou's right, and she hates it.
Xxxx
"Since when do you have an ATV?" Danny demands.
"My dad bought it for Mary and I years ago. No one knows about it really, except maybe Chin Ho, but I wouldn't expect him to remember it exists. It's under the radar, and enough to get us out there. Kamekona'll have a car waiting for us, to get us to the airport," Steve explains.
Danny sighs, merely tightening his grip on Steve's hips.
A half mile down the road from the meeting spot they ditch the ATV, leaving it in the bushes. Kamekona meets them on the outskirts of the city, in an abandoned building that everyone has forgotten even exists. In his hand he carries a canvas bag; on his face, he wears a concerned expression.
"You got it all?" Steve asks.
"All here," Kamekona confirms. Steve glances inside, roots through the contents a little bit. With a satisfied nod, he upturns the bag, spilling the contents onto a wooden table. He sorts through the items, handing some to Danny, and keeping some for himself.
They each get a wallet, filled with cash and cards, a gun, and a passport, with Steve quickly snagging the lone set of keys. Noticing this, Danny frowns at Steve.
"Why do you get to drive?"
"Cause I'm the better driver."
"Can't I drive, just this once? We're on the run, Steve."
"Why are you arguing with me about this? You know I get carsick when you drive."
"That's funny, considering I drove for some of our earliest cases and you never got carsick."
"Well, you were a better driver back then."
Dismissing Danny, Steve turns to Kamekona and shakes his hand, pulling the larger man into a one-armed hug.
"Thanks buddy."
"Anything for ohana."
Danny adds his gratitude, and the pair exit through the back door. Behind the building awaits their transportation, a jet-black Ford Focus. It's not connected to them in any way, shape, or form, which will keep them off the radar. The windows are also tinted just enough to obscure their faces from video cameras. It's perfect for getting them to the airport.
They exchange one last look over the hood of the car, a look that says everything. It's a look that says how scared they both are, how they'd really rather not leave behind their lives. However, also included, is that if this is their current lot in life, they are glad to have the other by their side. Danny Williams and Steve McGarrett disappear, and Michael Johnson and Henry White emerge.