HI. This story is coming to ya'll from the beautiful beaches of…Italy! Mitch's surprise Christmas present to me was a beautiful vacation to Europe because he knows how much I miss it! I was born in America, but because of my dad's work with the Navy, I lived in Europe for a lot of my life. We didn't always get to live him, but at least we were in the right hemisphere! Anyway, Mitch took me back here! Right now I'm in Portofino! Aww, I've missed this place! There will probably be an Italian character in this just because I've been speaking their language all day.
Steve glanced at his partner and took in the at ease posture and content smile on Danny's face. Danny always walked tall and confidently, but here, it was like a whole new man. Danny noticed Steve's eyes upon him and raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, Steve?"
"Nothin', it's just that I've never seen you this way."
"Well, we're on my turf now, babe. You grew up in Hawaii, and I grew up here. Try not to stick out, okay?" Danny ribbed playfully, throwing Steve's own words back in his face. Steve rolled his eyes as they left the airport together. It was almost an art form the way Danny Williams hailed a cab. For a short man, he commanded respect here in these streets.
"Taxi!" he bellowed, sticking a hand straight out. One of the quick yellow cars slammed on the brakes and slid next to the curb for them. The cabi rolled down his window and leaned his head out. Suddenly, his swarthy features split into an enormous, toothy grin.
"Detective Williams!" He exclaimed in heavily accented Italian. Danny leaned down and shielded his eyes from the sun to get a better look at the driver.
"Niccolo?" he asked, his features lighting up as well.
"Si! Oh, it's a very good to see you! Get in, get in! I take you anywhere, no charge!" Niccolo promised, stepping out and taking their bags to the trunk for them. Steve looked at Danny quizzically.
"Just what did you do to make this guy love you so much?" he asked.
"I tell you what he did! He proved me innocent! The mob was all set to frame me for murder, but Signore Williams didn't believe that. He got me my wife and my family back and now look! I have a my own cab business!" Niccolo beamed.
"It was nothing, Nic. And you don't have to give me a free ride." Danny said humbly.
"No, no! Not nothing! And besides, business makes a plenty! I insist!" Danny smiled.
"Alright. Can you take us to the Double Tree?" Danny asked, giving him their hotel. Niccolo nodded enthusiastically. As they drove, he smiled up at the rearview mirror.
"So, Signore. Who is your friend? Where you been so long? What brings you back to New Jersey, eh?"
"This is my partner, Steve McGarrett. We work together on the governor's task force in Hawaii. One of our suspects fled the island and we think he's here in Newark."
"Ahh, so a case! Exciting! Tell me Signore McGarrett, have you ever been here?" Steve smiled and shook his head.
"No, I've never had the pleasure. I grew up in Hawaii and have been in the Navy since I was old enough to enlist, so I haven't seen much of the country."
"Well, you have no one better to show you around than Danny! He is the best!" They drove the rest of the way, listening to Niccolo tell stories of Newark. When they arrived at the hotel, he refused to take their money, although he did slip some cash onto the driver's seat on the way out. Niccolo insisted on carrying their bags up and made Danny promise to call him personally if they needed a ride anywhere before he left. Once he was gone, both men sank into their beds.
"You didn't tell me you had a fan club, Danno." Steve joked. Danny laughed.
"Yeah, Nic's a good guy, just a little too grateful. I swear I must've gotten at least fifty homemade pies from his wife and I don't even know how many cards from their kids."
"At least you made a good impression. So, why aren't you staying with your family?" Steve asked. He knew Danny missed them terribly.
"Well, normally I would. I know they'd be happy to see me and my mom would probably adopt you, but I don't want to put them in danger. Maldonado is dangerous and in the past, he hasn't hesitated to go after the families of investigators. That's why I've got them all staying with family in Brooklyn."
"Believe me, man. I get it."
"I know. I'll go see 'em when this is over. In the meantime, we gotta find this son of a bitch."
"Well, you know this place better than me. Where would you look?"
"If I was Maldonado, I would be looking for someone to stay with. The gang sent him to Oahu to secure a deal with the Yakuza, but obviously that didn't work. He's not going to run back to his bosses 'cause he knows they'll him. No, he's gonna try to find friends from before his time with the Manzetti crime family."
"Alright, well his file says he ran drugs and guns for his own little gang. The major players were absorbed by the Manzettis, but it says some of them are still loyal to Maldonado."
"Tomorrow, we start with them."
"Sounds good." With that, both men turned out their lamps and fell asleep.
First Chapter! Won't be super long. Now to update Nalowale Kane. And for you whumpers and bromancers out there, don't worry. This fics gonna have it. I just needed a chapter to give you all a bit of a background.