This is a oneshot split into two chapters. (Does that make it a twoshot? ) Anyway, the inspiration for this one hit me on a midnight bus on the way to start my vacation a few weeks ago. I was too excited to sleep, and somehow that translated into this story. But, I love it and hope you do too :)
A little background on the song - Luke Bryan has lost both his siblings, his brother in 1997 in a car accident, and his sister in 2007 from unknown causes. This song struck very closely to him and thus his decision to record it. He dedicated his performance of it at the 2013 CMA's to his siblings, and it's a tear jerking, beautiful performance I encourage anyone to watch. Here's the lyrics, then the first of the two parts.
DRINK A BEER-LUKE BRYAN Written by: Jim Stevens & Chris Stapleton
When I got the news today
I didn't know what to say
So I just hung up the phone
I took a walk to clear my head
And this is where the walking lead
Can't believe you're really gone
Dont feel like going home
CHORUS
So I'm gonna sit right here
On the edge of this pier
Watch the sunset disappear
And drink a beer
Funny how the good ones go
Too soon but the good Lord knows
The reasons why I guess
Sometimes the greater plan
Is kinda hard to understand
Right now it don't make sense
I can't make it all make sense
CHORUS
So long my friend
Until we meet again
I'll remember you
And all the times that we used to
CHORUS
It took a lot for Commander Steven J. McGarrett, former highly trained NAVY SEAL to be speechless. Even in his current job as head of the Government of Hawaii's elite task force, Five 0, he was never left not knowing what to say. But nothing he had encountered in his former or current positions, no matter the mission, or security clearance level given to him had prepared him for this.
He awoke that breezy, May morning feeling eager, and excited. For the last eight months, Steve had been dealing with his partner and best friend's anxiety about his daughter attending university on the mainland. It was all Steve could do to get Danny to talk about something else for the first few months she was gone. And it didn't change much after that, either.
Grace was Danny's world, and the fact that she was grown up enough to go traveling to the mainland to visit her mom for a few weeks was hard enough on him. But for her to be gone for eight months, Steve knew, Danny could hardly handle.
But the day Danny, and by extension, Steve had been waiting for since saying goodbye to her the previous fall was finally here. Danny had flown back a few days earlier to help her gather her things, and they were both headed back to the islands that morning.
Steve was excited to see Grace too, so waking up that morning knowing he'd be picking them up in mere hours after all those months made him wish he could speed up time somehow.
However, it wasn't long before that was the last thing he would have wished for.
"So did Danny say how long he's taking off for, Boss?" Kono asked, as her, Chin Ho and Steve sat around their conference table a few hours later.
Steve shook his head. "Nah, I told him he has to have earned at least a month by now, so unless we really need him, he's gonna take at least that."
Chin chuckled. "I think he was more relieved Grace was done her first year than she was."
Steve and Kono laughed too. "Yeah, no kidding." Kono added.
Steve leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the table. "You know, if I had a nickel for everytime he talked about how excited he was to have her home, I think I could've paid for her entire four years of university."
They all laughed, and nodded along not realizing someone had walked into their office as he said it.
"I don't know about that, Uncle Steve. Have you seen the cost of tuition and books lately?" Grace, a tall, slim, beautiful young woman stood before them beaming widely.
"Grace!" Steve swung his legs off the table and leapt up to hug her instantly. "What are you doing here so early?!"
She continued to smile and hug her father's friends and coworkers as she talked. "Danno and I had to split up because the flight we had was overbooked, so I got the earlier one."
"Ohh, it's so good to see you kiddo," Chin hugged her as Steve snorted.
"So in other words, Danno cheaped out and bought super discount tickets not realizing it was because the flight was already full." He shook his head as he said, knowing his partner all too well.
"Pretty much," Grace nodded and laughed as she hugged Kono. "But, I'm not complaining."
"It gave you a peaceful flight, I bet." Chin winked.
Without missing a beat, Grace nodded and replied. "Exactly. I mean, it is really great to be back home after so long, but I don't need to hear about his plans for the entire summer all in one sitting." she teased.
"And at any point, did he mention he was excited you were coming home?" Steve also teased. They all laughed, knowing what the answer was already.
"Mmm, a time or two hundred." She replied. They laughed some more before being interrupted by Steve's phone ringing.
Looking at the number, he excused himself to his office, and answered it. "McGarrett." he answered as he always did. "Yes sir, we'll be right there." he replied to the caller, said goodbye, hung up, and headed back out the conference table with the unfortunate job of breaking up the reunion.
"Hate to do this guys, but we just got a case." He saw the look of disappointment in Chin, Kono, and Grace's faces. "Sorry Grace, we're gonna have to cut welcome home party short."
"Oh, that's okay." She said, looking at her watch. "I was planning on meeting some friends for some surfing on the North Shore in a couple hours anyway, I'll head home and unpack a bit and then head out."
"Ooh, I'm jealous." Kono commented. Do you need a ride?" she asked, as they all headed towards the doors.
"Nah, I took a taxi over to the house, so I dropped my bags off and then hopped in Danno's car." she explained. "I'm good."
"Wait," Steve stopped just before opening the main doors to their office, causing everyone else to stop behind him. "Danno let you drive his car?" he asked, curiously. He stood with crossed arms, using the best of his intimidation through body language skill.
"Well," Grace smirked, turning to face him. "Not exactly. BUT he did tell me that under no terms was I to allow you to drive me anywhere in it, so I took that as his understanding that I'll be driving myself around in it today."
Chin and Kono shared a smile as they followed behind.
"Huh." Steve replied. His previously disapproving facial expression quickly became a smirk before he opened the door for everyone. "Sneaky. I like it." He gave Grace props as the group headed outside. "You still up for dinner at the Hilton after we get back from the airport?" he asked as they headed to the vehicles.
"Wouldn't miss it!" She chimed as she got into the camaro and revved the engine. "See you there!" She waved and promptly pulled out with a roar.
"Would you look at that," Chin remarked as he and Steve climbed into Steve's truck. He noticed as he got in that Steve's eyes were slightly glossy. "Steve, are you crying?" he prodded his boss and friend.
"What? No." Steve denied, conveniently very interested in something outside the driver's window, keeping his face from Chin's view. But he knew he was already caught.
"Wait, is it because you're so happy Grace is home, or because you're sad she gets to drive Danno's car and you don't?" he laughed, as Steve cleared his throat and headed out of the parking lot, with Kono close behind.
Seven hours and one caught perpertraitor later, the team had dispersed and gone home. Steve however, had made a quick pit stop to pick up some celebratory beers for him and Danny later. He was just getting back into the truck when his phone rang. Feeling like he should recognize the number, he answered as he always did. "McGarrett."
"Commander Steve McGarrett?" The unknown woman's voice asked, sounding oddly professional, yet warm.
"Yes, who am I speaking with?" He asked, curtly. He was feeling slightly on alert and this conversation already felt slightly off to him.
"Commander McGarrett, my name is Breanna. I'm a nurse here at St. Michael's Hospital in Rutherford, New Jersey. I'm so sorry to be calling you right now." she paused.
It was a Jersey area code, Steve realized. There was the familiarity. At the same time as realizing that, he realized why she was calling him. "What happened to Danny? Is he okay?" He asked quickly, hoping to skip over what he expected next. However, what he got was something infintely worse than he could've ever imagined.