Author's Notes: I own very little and nothing at all in connection with Hawaii 5-0.
I've been playing with outsider viewpoints lately, and as I continue to be displeased with this season, I decided to show Danny and Steve as we used to get to see them..
"If you build the guts to do something, anything, then you better save enough to face the consequences." -Criss Jami
Anna stared at the dozens of rings in the case. This was stupid. This jewelry store was doing a business this morning, no one was available to help her and why couldn't Ryan pick out his own ring? He was the one who was going to wear it. She's had plenty of input in her engagement ring, after all.
"Maybe that says more about me," she muttered to herself.
"Struggling?" Anna looked up at the man who had spoken. He was short, strongly built, with kind of weird hair.
"Excuse me?"
"You're talking out loud and you seemed kinda frustrated."
"I'm trying to pick out a wedding ring for my fiance," said Anna with a sigh. "And I've no idea."
"Tell you what, I can give you some tips if you'd be willing to help me out." Anna eyed the guy: well-dressed, kind face. He didn't look like a creeper. But then, they don't always.
"What can I help you with?" He stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked on his feet, only to immediately free his hands and wave them around.
"My daughter has a birthday coming up. And I need a girl's input."
"Ah, I see," nodded Anna. "Okay, why not?" A broad grin broke over his face.
"Great. What does your fiance do?"
"Navy yard. He builds ships."
"So something durable. Titanium is good, but pricey. Tungsten steel is pretty similar in price."
"If it means not having to replace it over and over again, I'm cool. What else?"
"They do this rounded edge, more comfortable, especially if he's working with his hands."
"Do you have the rounded edge?" asked Anna, her eyes fell to his left hand. No ring. Shit.
"Uh, I did. I used to." He cleared his throat. "But yeah, that rounded was good. Didn't catch on stuff."
"That is really helpful, thank you..."
"Danny," he said, extending his hand. His grip was strong and warm, hands lightly calloused.
"I'm Anna. Danny, I was clueless. You saved my sanity. Now, tell me about your daughter. How old?"
"Grace, she's going to turn 11. She loves the ocean and swimming and surfing," his face scrunched up and Anna got the impression that Danny didn't love those things. "So I was thinking a dolphin or...something...no pineapples." Anna laughed.
"Got it, no pineapples. Necklace, ring, bracelet?"
"Necklace, I think. She'll outgrow a ring or bracelet so fast."
"Makes sense. Now, I love dolphins as much as the next girl, but maybe something a little different? Maybe some shell charms?"
"Everyone on the ground, now!" Anna whipped around to see five people in colored masks enter the jewelry store, carrying guns.
"Oh my God," she whispered.
"Just do it. Anna, just get down. Come on," said Danny, firmly pulling her down to the floor. "Just do what they say." Anna stretched out on the floor next to Danny, studying the carpet with great intensity, ignoring the sounds of fear from the other patrons, the shouts of the robbers. It took her a moment to realize she had pressed herself firmly into Danny, nearly huddled into his side.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Shhh, everything's gonna be fine."
He was so damn calm. How can he be so collected?
"Empty your pockets! Everything, keys, wallets, cell phones, all of it!" People began pulling their belongings out. Anna pushed her whole purse to the center of floor. "Hey, you too, buddy," said Red Mask, nudging Danny with his shoe.
"I did, everything I have is out there."
"Bullshit, I can see something in your pocket," answered the robber. "On your knees!" Danny slowly got to his knees and Red Mask reached down to pull something out of Danny's pants. Anna's eyes widened as the thief produced a badge. "Ah shit, man, we got a cop." Blue mask came over, grabbing the badge.
"Not just a cop. 5-0."
Anna wasn't really familiar with 5-0, but she's seen a little on the news. They always seemed to be involved with some crazy stuff. Explosions, terrorists...how had one of the members of Hawaii's elite task force been helping her pick out a ring?
"Fuck, we are hosed!"
"No, no we're not, just calm down. We just need to move fast. Alright, listen up," shouted Blue Mask. "I want everything emptied into these bags. Now! You and you, up!" Two employees of the store got up and started unlocking cases, under the close supervision of the other robbers.
Blue Mask looked from the shield in his hand to Danny. Anna didn't think she could possibly be more freaked out at this moment, but the way that guy was looking at Danny was not good.
"5-0 arrested my brother," said Blue Mask after a tense moment of dead-eyed stare.
"We arrest a lot of people." Danny's voice was easy, conversational.
"How many of them do you hold over the edge of a roof? Huh? How many kids do you scare into admitting anything?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," said Danny, hands gesturing in front of him, still sounding like he was arguing about football scores with a buddy. "I, personally, have never dangled anyone off of a roof. I am not a proponent of that sort of behavior."
"Oh, really? You had nothing to do with any of that? Because it's not like 5-0 is a big unit or something." Blue Mask was getting angry. Anna swallowed a whimper, but stayed where she was, her side flush to his leg. He didn't seem worried in the least.
"I've never done it, I don't like those sorts of tactics."
In the distance, Anna heard it, but she cocked her head to be sure. Sirens. Getting closer. She was positive a few seconds before the robbers heard it.
"Cops!" shouted Red Mask. "How'd they know?!"
"Someone must have hit an alarm," snarled Blue Mask. "Pack it up, we're going out the back! Let's go!" Blue Mask turned to Danny.
"So who was it, Mr. 5-0? Who did that to my little brother?"
"It wasn't me."
"Who did it?" roared Blue Mask, slamming the flat of his gun into Danny's face. Anna pressed her hands to her mouth, trying to stifle the scream that wanted to rip out of her. Danny grunted and rocked to the side, his hand on her back, but he didn't fall.
Anna forced her eyes open, looking up at Danny. He was looking right at her, blood running down the left side of his face. Defying the situation and the pain she could plainly see in his eyes, he smiled at her and then straightened back up on his knees.
"Look, I don't know if you can't hear over the sirens or what, but I'm going to say it again: It wasn't me."
"Not you. Fine," said Blue Mask, stepping back, his gun pointed at Danny. "But I think you're close enough."
When the gun went off, Anna didn't even try to stop her scream.