Trouble In Paradise
Set before the season one finale of Hawaii Five-0 and during season five of NCIS.
Summary: When one of Steve's former Navy colleagues is murdered not far from his house, NCIS is given jurisdiction. But when Steve refuses to back off the case it results in a joint investigation that leads them in unexpected directions...
A/N: My first crossover and venture into both the Hawaii Five-0 and NCIS fandoms, so I'm a little (ok, a lot) nervous about posting this!
As always, I'd love to hear what you think about the story in the form of reviews, though please no flames. That said I welcome any concrit you may have.
Disclaimer: Don't own either shows, but maybe if I save enough I'll be able to afford at least one of them... Should also say that when it comes to investigation procedures I am by no means a cop (or Super-SEAL for that matter) so I only know what cop shows and Google can teach me so I apologise in advance if I get something wrong. Same goes for locations in Hawaii.
Unbeta'd so all mistakes are my own.
oOo
"I am never speaking to any of you again!" Detective Danny Williams ground out through gritted teeth from the driver's side of the Camaro.
"Well, that's good news," Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett stated, knowing full well that a rant was coming contrary to what his partner was saying.
"I cannot believe that you did that! No, I can believe that you would do that, but Chin and Kono? You have no respect for anyone else's wishes and now you've corrupted the remaining two thirds of our team! I'm telling you this would never, I repeat never have happened had I not moved to this pineapple infested hell-hole!" Danny paused for breath, an opportunity Steve didn't hesitate to take advantage of.
"Forget it, Danny!" He started to raise his voice too, "It was just a piece of pizza for crying out loud!" Steve couldn't help smirking at the memory.
"Just a piece of pizza? No, this is not just about a piece of pizza. This is about you not having any respect for other people's wishes!"
"Well, if you knew you didn't like it, why did you eat it? It's not like we forced you to or something!"
"Why did I eat it?" Danny lowered his voice and raised his eyebrows as he glared at his partner. "Why did I eat it? I'll tell you why! Because the rest of my team, whom I am supposed to be able to trust with my life, knew I wouldn't eat it so you covered it with excessive amounts of cheese!"
Steve rolled his eyes as his partner continued to take his frustration out on him. He had to admit it had been worth it though. To see the look of horror on his partner's face when he had gotten a mouthful of pineapple on his pizza had been priceless. Steve was happy to sit through one of Danny's rants after having witnessed that.
"Fine," Steve raised his hands in defeat, trying to put an end to Danny's ranting, "No more ham and pineapple pizza, you have my, Chin and Kono's word on that."
"You'd better hope not," Danny threatened as they got closer to Steve's house, "or you might find that a Bon Jovi CD got stuck on repeat in the CD drive."
"Not in your lifetime, Jersey," Steve smirked as the Camaro pulled into his driveway.
Exiting the car, Steve turned around to look at his partner, "See you on Monday, Danno, and say hi to Gracie for me."
Danny rolled his eyes at the use of his nickname, "Yeah, will do. See you then, Rambo."
Steve smirked as he shut the car door, knowing he had got under his partner's skin. As the Camaro pulled away Steve headed towards his front door but something seemed off. Testing the door handle he noticed it was unlocked and he didn't hesitate to draw his gun. Pushing the door open with his foot he moved inside with his gun raised. A glance at the security system told him that it had been deactivated and his pulse picked up as his eyes and gun swept the lower level of the house.
When most of the lower level had been cleared, Steve made his way to the dining area that led out to the back porch. His eyes landed on a figure sitting on one of the chairs out the back and he slowly crept forward keeping his gun raised. Steve stopped by the door, trying to get a glimpse of the intruder in the setting sun, confident that he could make the shot through the glass windows if needed.
With only the side of the man's face visible Steve called out, "Turn around, slowly!"
The man heard Steve clearly and smirked as he turned to face Steve, a beer in his hand.
"Clarke?" Steve stared incredulous at the man on his deck, the door still between them.
"McGarrett," Clarke acknowledged with a smile, "that's one hell of a security system you've got there, I almost set the alarms off getting myself a beer," he grinned.
Steve lowered his sig and holstered it as he opened the door to join his former colleague on the lanai. "How the hell did you know where to find me here?" Steve asked as he accepted the beer Clarke was offering him and took a seat.
"I spoke to a certain Lieutenant who's been here on a few occasions," Clarke grinned again at Steve as he took another sip of his beer.
"Catherine," Steve surmised as he took the lid off his beer and took a sip. "So what are you doing here, Clarke?"
"Can't an old friend just catch up to have a beer?"
"One with your background? No. You still with Naval Intelligence?"
"Yeah, I've spent the last few months on the Enterprise. We docked last week." He took another sip of beer.
"How are you on shore then? Cath said that they're restricted to the ship." Steve grew suspicious.
"Well, I didn't exactly walk out the front door if you get what I mean."
"So you broke regulation to come see me?" Steve raised his eyebrows, "Should I be flattered?"
"Nah, what can I say, I needed a beer," Clarke grinned again holding his bottle up towards Steve.
Steve clinked the bottle with his own, "Amen to that." He thought about the typically draining conversation that he had just had with Danny before taking another swig. "So why are you really here?"
Clarke grew silent and Steve furrowed his brow as he looked at the lieutenant.
"I can't really talk about it," Clarke replied softly.
"Why?" Steve asked, wondering why he would come out of his way to see him if he wasn't going to tell him what was happening. "Is it about your work at ONI?"
"Hmph," Clarke scoffed, "let's just say, it's just like old times."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Just that it's starting to look like it did around the time that led me to get a position in the same department as you."
"What? An investigation?" Steve wasn't sure if he was following where Clarke was going, the man was being annoyingly cryptic.
"Nothing official."
"Look, Bryce, you came to me remember? If you want my help you're gonna have to stop being so god-damn cryptic about it!" Steve felt the frustration building.
Clarke returned Steve's hard gaze for a moment, and McGarrett could almost see the internal battle going on in Clarke's mind, before the lieutenant looked down and stood up, causing Steve to also rise.
"I know, I'm sorry Steve. I shouldn't have come here," Clarke stated, but there was no hint that he regretted his actions in his voice, "Thanks for the beer."
"You're forgetting that I didn't offer you one," Steve reminded with a hint of a smile as he offered out his hand for Clarke to shake.
Clarke smiled back and took Steve's offered hand. "Maybe next time we can have a few and discuss the family." Clarke's eyes hung on the fridge visible through the doors for a moment.
"Anytime," Steve withdrew his hand and Clarke turned to leave in the direction of the beach. "You make sure you don't get caught sneaking back onto the ship!"
Clarke grinned, the tension disappearing, "Hey, I got off didn't I?" He called back. Steve smiled and lifted his hand up in a wave, a gesture Clarke returned before he disappeared from view.
Steve walked back into the house with his half finished beer in hand and pulled out his phone. Holding down number five on his speed-dial he put the phone to his ear, smiling as it was answered after just the second ring.
"Why hello there, sailor..."
oOo
Clarke decided to walk along the beach for a few miles as he headed in the direction of the harbour. It had been a long time since he had been on leave and he enjoyed the warm breeze and smell of the ocean. He stopped for a moment to watch the last rays of sun disappear over the horizon and the beach slowly began to be swallowed by darkness.
The peace was disturbed by the crack of a twig in the foliage behind him and he turned quickly, his senses on high alert. Before he could complete his turn a muffled crack cut through the still dusk air and he felt something sharp in his chest, closely followed by another. The pain in his chest worsened and his knees gave out and he felt the coarse sand beneath him. Gasping for breath he felt blood spill onto his chin and the pain seemed to dull as his body weakened.
Soft footsteps came to stop beside him and a face appeared above him, just visible in the dying light.
"You," he managed to gasp, knowing how cliché that sounded even to his fading mind, "it can't be!" The face was replaced by the silencer of a gun and the muted sound of a third and final gunshot disturbed the peace one last time.
oOo
"What's with the swim shirt McTimid?" Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo lowered his sunglasses as he watched McGee make his way over to the chairs by the side of the pool where he was already spread out on a deck chair.
Special Agent Timothy McGee scowled at the new nick-name, "I am not afraid to swim without a shirt, but I am wary of getting skin cancer. We're not in Washington any more in case you hadn't noticed, DiNozzo; this is Hawaii."
Tony smiled, "Look around, McMelanoma. No one else seems to be worried about it, besides, a little sun would do you some good."
"I believe McGee to be wise to care about sun protection," Officer Ziva David walked up to the pair wearing her bikini. "One can never be too safe. Do you mind, McGee?" She held out a bottle of sun block for him to help her apply to her back.
Tony jumped up from the chair he'd been lounging on, "You know I was just kidding before. I myself am a big fan of sun protection and would love to help you out, Officer David," he smiled.
"Forget it, Tony," McGee swiped the sun block from her hands and popped the lid off.
"Thank you." Ziva smiled at him then gave Tony a smug smile as she sat on the nearest chair and turned so that McGee could apply the sun block to her back.
"Our first leave in months and we have to spend it with DiNozzo," McGee grumbled as he rubbed Ziva's back, Tony eyeing him enviously as he retook his seat. "Not to mention sharing a room!"
"Would you rather bunk with Gibbs?" Tony looked over at McGee.
"At least I don't snore, DiNozzo."
Tony stiffened at the sound of their boss's voice as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs came to join them by the pool. "Hey, Boss, didn't know you were up! And for the record I have a nasal condition..."
"Yeah, more like he has a jet engine stuck up his nose," McGee mumbled which made Ziva snicker.
Tony also caught the comment and glared at him. "Where are you headed to, Boss?" Tony asked, eyeing Gibbs' board shorts and old tee.
"Fishing, DiNozzo. Why? Wanna come?" Gibbs asked, although his tone wasn't one of invitation.
"Well, as tempting as standing on a beach all day with a pole and getting eaten by mosquitoes sounds, I have plans for the day."
Gibbs was distracted as his phone went off.
"Which are?" Ziva continued the conversation, curious.
"Absolutely nothing," he replied with a grin as he put the sunglasses back over his eyes and lay down on the pool chair with his arms behind his head.
"Glad to hear it, DiNozzo," Gibbs had finished speaking to whoever had been on the other end of the phone, "so you won't mind cancelling them then."
Tony sat up quickly, once again taking off his glasses to show his horrified expression, "Cancelling?"
"Why, Boss?" Tim spun around to face Gibbs.
"We've got a body."
"But we just wrapped up our case at Pearl," Tony complained. "Don't the guys in Washington know what leave is?"
"Well yeah, DiNozzo, it was real inconsiderate of him to be killed while you're on leave," Gibbs frowned at his younger agent.
"Sorry Boss," Tony looked a little sheepish, "but it's just that we're in Hawaii!"
"Give it a rest Tony," McGee raised himself from his chair to head back to the hotel and change, "we'll still be in Hawaii."
"Yeah, working!" DiNozzo also stood up and joined the others on the way back to the hotel rooms. "Where abouts is this body anyway Boss?"
"On a stretch of beach behind a park on Piikoi street."
oOo
A/N: What did you think of the first chapter? Please let me know your thoughts on it! Thanks!
This story isn't quite finished yet so I don't know when the next update will be but hopefully it won't be too long :)