Operation Birthday Surprise for Danno Impossible!
Chapter 1- Op day 1
Sequel to An international Incident, or can be read separately.
I hope you like, let me know, cheers!
...
I won't pretend
That we can control the night
Oh what kind of road we're on
Oh when we will see the light
Right now I'm talking to you
I'm looking into your eyes
Right now I'm trying to show you
That we're gonna be alright- need to breath (Forever on your side)
If it hadn't been for Eric who had brought up the subject he had almost forgotten, it was Danny's birthday in two weeks! It had never been a big deal because Danny had always made sure he went back to Jersey for his birthday at least a week before, so it had always been a tie and another boring tie every year, ties that he never wore anymore these days. It was Hawaii after all and Danny had finally listened, he no longer wore the ties, even on special occasions and Steve had no idea what else to buy him anymore, other than a new tie on his birthday. And worse, Danny wasn't going to Jersey as usual this time around, which meant Danny was probably going to spend his birthday here and Steve could not just hand him a tie now could he?
'Hey buddy, here's your tie- again, happy birthday, now how about we get on with that case?'
It didn't feel right, even for him, Danny deserved so much better and this would be the first time Steve would really have an opportunity to do something for Danny instead of posting a tie to New Jersey to be opened on his birthday. He wondered what others got him. He hoped nobody else got him ties, that was his monopoly. To be honest, Steve was out of his depth here, he really didn't know what gifts to get people on birthdays and how to plan someone's birthday par….that was it! Steve's mind went bingo! With an idea and his eyes lit up. A birthday party for Danny! A surprise birthday party! Something big, something grand, something…something that would make Danny know how much he was valued, how much…,
Now that Steve had this grand idea he was excited and anxious, he had never done something like this before but it had to be done. According to Eric Danny didn't want to celebrate his birthday this year, probably brooding over something or he just wanted to spend time with his family here. Steve would dare say that Danny had finally accepted this pineapple infested hellhole as home, so he wanted to spend his birthday at home. Or maybe he was just in one of his moods again and just plain didn't want to celebrate anything. Well, not if Steve had anything to say about it. Now his mind was going a mile a minute planning this thing, he had a short amount of time, just two weeks, not to mention he was really green in this area, but this mission could not fail! Yep, it was a mission, one of the most important and may prove to be the most difficult but he will do it , by God he will make this mission a success! He had to get his team in on it, assign everyone a project, with team effort what could go wrong? He took out his phone and called Eric.
…..
Monday morning the team was gathered around the computer table while Steve laid out the plan, all were present except for Danno, of course. It was early morning Monday and Danny wasn't all that punctual on Mondays. Steve was banking on that and hoped that he would be a little later in today. Any other day, Danny was early enough but Mondays, not so much. Now Steve looked at his watch and calculated that he was left with maybe only ten minutes tops before Danny walked through that door, in a grouchy mood no doubt because hey, it was a Monday.
This would have been a whole lot better if Chin and Kono had been here because they would be all over this in no time. Kono always planned the birthday parties, she always knew who's birthday was when even when the owners of the birthdays were not even that aware. Steve was hoping that Tani and Junior could be the same but it was asking for too much knowing that the two didn't even know whose birthday was when yet. They were still trying to get around learning about 5-0, he was sure they hadn't got to birthdays yet. He would have to rely on Lou more who was just as clueless as him but at least Lou would rely on Renee. That thought made Steve breathe a little easier, Renee would just make everything perfect, she had done this kind of thing a thousand times before, Steve was sure. Steve wished Cath was home and not on a Navy Intelligence mission and would only be back two weeks after the party, he would lean on her too on something like this.
"How much time did you say we had again?" Tani asked, a bit anxious, already making calculations.
"Two weeks." Lou answered. "Two weeks of hiding things from Danny and talking and planning without him knowing, man this is already giving me a heart disease. Do you know how hard it is to keep something form Williams? If he so much as suspects that…."
"The Governor…," Steve said a bit loudly having spotted Danny walking in. Crap! Of all Mondays, Danny was early today. "will…have to…" He exchanged looks with Lou who was now looking at him curiously because he had his back on Danny but Tani, Junior and Jerry were already on alert having spotted him too. Steve was really looking for help here because he didn't know what to say about the Governor now, everyone was silent, just looking at him with the 'you started it' looks. "…to…make sure …we …' He tried to continue.
"Don't bother Steven, I saw that." Danny said, coming up to stand at the table too, looking at everyone suspiciously, then he pinned his stare on Steve who might or might not have squirmed.
"Told you." Lou murmured under his breath.
"Saw what Danny? And good morning to you too." Steve said defensively.
"Yeah Williams , good morning, you're here awfully bright and early on a Monday." Lou said
"Somehow I'm getting the feeling that you're a bit dismayed about my being 'bright and early' this morning." Danny said with suspicion.
"Oh, come on Danny, don't tell me you are in one of those Monday morning blues again." Steve complained.
"Actually, I'm in a very good mood this morning."
"Oh yeah, that's a surprise." Steve mocked.
"Don't say surprise, don't say surprise' Tani murmured under her breath.
"What put you in such a good mood Danno" Steve asked.
"Don't even try to distract me Steve, I saw that."
"Again, saw what Danny?" Steve challenged.
"What is that I smell?" Danny made a show of sniffing around, "Conspiracy! And those looks that passed around and the nudging between you two," He pointed between Tani and Junior, "as soon as you saw me walk in and not to mention the change of subject Steve. What about the Governor? And that face…" Danny said suspiciously as he circled a finger in Steve's general face.
"What face?" Steve asked stiffly.
"Liar face. You have faces Steve, and you're spotting your liar face right now. One minute you looked like you were planning an op the next you were wearing that 'liar' face on. So, what are you hiding from me?" Danny asked looking first at Tani and Junior who managed to maintain stoic faces, then at Jerry who just shrugged and made his way to his basement, he might have mumbled a lame excuse. Then next he looked at Lou who just shook his head at Danny then at Steve before raising his hands in surrender. Steve was thinking, 'crap, not even a day and the mission was already in tatters'.
"Pheww conspiracy, Danny Williams, hiding things -not my area." Lou said making his way to his office, his exit encouraged Tani to pull Junior's sleeve, making their own exit, leaving Steve all alone with this mess, so much for team work.
That stare zeroed in on Steve now, "Now that your comrades have abandoned ship commander, you mind telling me what you're hiding from me?" Danny asked.
"You…are…impossible you know that?"
"Uh uh out with it."
"You really wanna know?" Steve was buying time.
"Is my name Danny Williams?"
"No idea, could be an alias."
"Steven!"
"Ok ok, you asked for it, it's Eric…"
"What about Eric?" Danny was now a bit tense.
"He uh… well he made a mistake at the Lab, something to do with mixing evidence…"
"Oh, for God's sake!"
"Yeah, didn't wanna tell you, I was handling it…" Sorry Eric, you gotta take one for the team, Steve apologized inwardly.
"Why wouldn't you tell me something like that Steve, he is my nephew."
"I know, and I knew you would get all worked up about it, so…."
"Do we have a case?'
"No."
"Can I step out for a minute?"
"You need to go straighten him out a bit, am I right?"
Danny just shrugged.
"You're really not in a good mood are you?"
"I was, until you ruined it."
"I was handling it."
"Handling it, like an op?" Danny asked with sarcasm.
"Is my name Steven J. McGarrett?" Steve tried for lightness.
Danny looked at him a bit longer, considering, "Definitely an alias." Danny said then smiled and walked out.
Steve looked after him a bit longer and shook his head with a smile on his face, then sighed. Thus far, problem averted. Steve took out his phone to call Eric so he'd know to act all demure and apologetic when his Uncle comes blazing in with words of wisdom and reprimand for a crime he didn't commit.
The op was still safe, for now.
Oh I don't know
What's around the bend
All I know
Is that my love
It knows no end
...