The room was dark, damp and stifling. The only source of light came from the moon shining through the narrow gaps between the metal bars of the small window on the wall. There was the distinct coppery odor of blood, mingled with sweat that hung in the humid air. On the splintered, timber floor, were two men; one sat alert and awake, the other was passed out cold.

To a casual observer, the man who was conscious appeared to be doing nothing but stare across the room as he sat on the floor. To those who knew him better, it was obvious desperate thoughts were tinkering around in his head. In his mind's eye, he ran through the various ways that he and his colleague could get out of their ill-fated predicament.

There were people who thought the Hawaiian man was not a quick thinker, and they found it hard to believe he held a place in the elite state police unit, Five-O. What people didn't realize, was that Kono Kalakaua was in fact very smart and able. He had traits that people rarely saw which earned him a spot in Steve McGarrett's detective unit. It was those same traits and skills that had saved his life and the lives of others on more than just a few occasions. Now he was faced with those tasks and responsibilities again. This time, he didn't only have his life to save; he had the life of his unconscious friend and colleague, Danny Williams to save too. He knew if he could possibly save Danny's life in return for his own, he would do it in a heartbeat. But in regards to who their captors were, and what they wanted, that was an unlikely alternative.

Kono surveyed the room once more, squinting, as he took in as much detail as he could, using what little light emitted through the window. The task proved more difficult with a bruised eye and the cut he sported on his cheek re-opened from the movement. Turning his gaze down to his injured partner, he grew concerned about the bump that was adorned on Danny's left temple. It didn't appear to be a serious injury, but it had been enough to knock out the sandy-haired detective for nearly an hour. An injury caused by the boot of one of the three vicious men that held them captive.

Kono gently shook Danny by the shoulders again, trying to get him to wake up. He had conjured up a plan that might allow them a chance to escape, but he needed to go over it with Danny before their captors returned. To his great relief, Danny began to stir.

"Danny! Come on, bruddah, you gotta wake up now!" Kono urged his friend, hoping Danny would regain consciousness.

Danny slowly opened his eyes, only to find his big kanaka friend staring straight down at him. He winced as the pain in his head throbbed, and then sat up a little too quickly. Groaning, the young man reached his hand up to his temple. The room spun and he closed his eyes for a moment to clear the vertigo. "A guy finally gets a chance to sleep, and then you have to go and wake him up," Danny grumbled, giving Kono a slight smile.

Kono laughed softly, relieved his friend could still quip in light of the circumstances. It was a hollow laugh that died on his lips as he remembered the task at hand. "Sorry bruddah, but I had ta make you wake up. I think I gotta plan dat might get us outta here."

At that news, Danny became more alert. "What kind of plan do you have in mind?"

"We know dat dere are only da three of 'em, and so far we ain't seen anyone else. Each time dey come in da room, it is usually only one or two of 'em. Next time when we hear dem coming, we can go hide behind da door so we can get dem by surprise. You and me take one each. Den, we can get out of dis room. We take da other guy and get out of dis place," Kono paused to take a breath, and looked at Danny expectantly.

Danny was mulling over the idea in his mind. "There are plenty of risks involved, and it might not be so easy to execute." Danny took a breath then continued. "But then again, it just might work. At least we'll have a chance to get out of here alive!"

Kono nodded his agreement. "Dere are a lotta trees around dis place, maybe we can use dem for cover..." he trailed off, waiting to see if Danny had a different opinion.

Danny nodded, still thinking about the plan. After the brutal treatment they had received from their captors, he didn't want to think about what would happen if their plan didn't go exactly like they were hoping. He knew Kono had put a lot of thought into the idea, and the more he thought about it himself, the more he realized that it was their best bet for now. He gave Kono a thoughtful smile and replied in a croaked voice, "Let's do it."

H50

After waiting for nearly an hour, contemplating the many faults that riddled through their plan of escape, Danny and Kono heard footsteps approaching the thick wooden door. They exchanged a knowing glance, before rising to their feet as swiftly as their aching, battered bodies allowed. They stood on either side of the door waiting at the ready for their kidnappers. The sound of the metal bolt being drawn back on the other side of the door signaled their anticipated entry into the room. Steeling themselves against the wall, the two detectives waited with bated breath for the door to swing open. The first man to take a step inside, was tall and athletic, a semi-automatic pistol held in his hand. He walked cautiously into the room, his gun held out in front of him. More light from the open doorway filtered into the confinement but before the man had a chance to locate his captives, a well-placed kick knocked the gun out of his hand. "What the –?" The disarmed man found himself doubled over, from a second kick, this time to the stomach, courtesy of one Kono Kalakaua. The Hawaiian wasted no time in grabbing the winded opponent by the shoulders and pulling him into the room roughly. The man landed on the floor hard, whatever breath remained in his body rushed out of his lungs. A second man, stockier than the first rushed at Kono and was met with a fist planted neatly in his jaw by Danny who had stepped out from behind the door. The punch spun the heavier man around and he staggered back in shock, tripping over his partner. Unable to find the gun somewhere on the ground, Kono followed Danny through the doorway, making a run straight down the short hallway towards what could be the front door that led to their freedom. Their third captor was nowhere to be seen, giving Danny and Kono new hope.

We just might make it! Kono thought, as they barged out the screen door, which thankfully had not been locked. They headed directly for the protection of the forest.

Their hopes were soon dashed as a shot rang through the air, downing one of the two detectives.

" Kono!" Danny cried out, stopping abruptly as his friend fell over. Kono groaned, as he held onto his right leg, the unlucky bullet catcher. Danny grasped the larger man's arm and tried to hoist him to his feet but in his own present condition, his strength gave out. Breathing heavily, Danny dropped to his knees, terror gripped him in its vice-like hold.

The shooter and his two comrades came marching up to where Hawaii Five-O's second in command knelt on the ground beside the wounded detective.

The first man, who had been subject to Kono during the escape, walked over to the Hawaiian and brutally kicked the bullet wound, causing him to cry out in pain. He laughed sadistically, pointing his gun in his face, before spitting out the word "Payback."

"Leave him alone!" Danny snapped.

"Why pig? You don't wanna to see 'im in pain? Whatcha gonna do about it, huh?" The stocky man glared at Danny, before erupting into a fit of maniacal laughter.

"Fools! You should not have tried escaping. For that, you will both suffer consequences far worse than you could possibly imagine! I guarantee it." A third voice threatened. It was a voice that dripped with hatred for the two cops. Cold as ice, it could make even the toughest of men tremble with fear.

Danny glared up at the man before rising to his feet. He opened his mouth to retort but the gesture earned him a back handed blow across the face. Kono winced at the sound of a hand striking flesh, followed by his friend's grunt of surprise and pain. Somehow managing to stay on his feet, Danny whirled around, his fist shot forward but through his groggy state the man before him blocked the blow with his forearm and seized a handful of the detective's Aloha shirt, pulling him closer to his face. The man stood a full head taller than Danny but his grip had lifted the slighter man off his heels and his dark eyes bore into Danny's bright blue gaze.

The man's voice took on a low but dangerous tone. "You will pay for that. And so will your big friend here. Boys?" he called out to his associates. "After we get them settled back in their room, why don't we teach them a little lesson about how they should behave?"

The two men grinned at each other evilly before grabbing Kono by the arms and dragging him to his feet. The young, Hawaiian detective gasped and groaned in pain, the wound in his leg ablaze.

The front man looked at Danny and Kono before giving them a smug smirk. "You two are never going to leave this place alive. Mark my words."