A new start
By
Landon Richardson
Disclaimer
The character of Steve McGarrett, Chin Ho Kelly, Kono Kalakaua, The character of Danni Richardson and Nikki Williams are mine though so please don't use her without asking permission first.
The character of Danni McGarrett is probably mine by now. Even though she was originally based on male Danny Williams I think it's probably safe to say that's she her own individual character by now, especially since I've created a back ground for her which is different to male Danny's background in the show. This also affects Grace who is different from the show as well in ways.
The characters of Jack O'Connor, David Richardson, Riley King, Mason Lowe, Niamh Clayton, Louisa Palakiko-Cowan, Tyler Landon, Vanessa Landon, Holly Davies and Teddy Robertson, do however belong to me. I should also add that if a character is mentioned who you are not instantly aware of then that character belong to me as well
Author Note
This is definitely the last chapter story which is going up until some of my other ones are completed. The rest will simply be one shots.
I wasn't planning on putting this story up but it's been haunting me for a while so I decided to just go for it. I'm pretty good at updating so I figured hey what was one more.
Anyway enjoy.
Overall summary
When Danni Williams is forced to leave Hawaii with her daughter and follow her ex-husband back to the mainland she felt as though her life was over until the best part of her life followed her. Now she and Steve have to make a life together away from all they know and pray that what they have is enough to survive all the challenges they face. (Part of the Danni world – stand alone story)
Chapter Summary
Telling the other member of the governor task force that she was leaving them and Hawaii was without doubt the hardest thing that Danni Williams had had to do and there were a lot of shitty things which she had had to do in the past.
Overall romance
Steve McGarrett/Danni McGarrett (McDanni)
Other romances
Chapter One
Breaking the news
Telling the other member of the governor task force that she was leaving them and Hawaii was without doubt the hardest thing that Danni Williams had had to do and there were a lot of shitty things which she had had to do in the past.
She had fought it, tried everything she could think of to stay where she was but it was simple at the end of the day. Danni was moving to San Diego because her ex-husband Duncan was moving to San Diego to become vice president of the banking firm he worked for. It was a huge promotion and he wanted to take it but he wasn't willing to leave his daughter behind. They had tried to hash it out, figure out a way it could work but there was no way around it. If Danni wanted to keep custody of her daughter then she had to leave. If she did then Duncan wouldn't sue for custody. They would simply carry on as they had been doing with Duncan having Gracie every other weekend and twice during the week while Danni had her at all other times. It used to be just once a week but with Danni's workload increasing and their relationship improving from being civil to being friends it had made sense.
Arrangements had been made. Danni had finally sold her house in Jersey getting an incredibly good deal on it and had used the money to buy a house in San Diego for her and Grace to live in, a house which would be slightly bigger than her one in Hawaii giving them much needed space for storage. Grace had been told and although she had been sad at leaving Hawaii and her friends she had soon become excited by it. Danni had spoken to her old Captain at Jersey who happened to be brothers with the Captain of Detective in San Diego and had been surprised and thankful when he rang her back the next day and told her that he had gotten in contact with his brother and had giving her number to him. Luckily the Captain from San Diego hadn't kept her waiting long with an answer and had contacted her two days previously to tell her she had a job waiting for her when she arrived.
All that was left was to tell her team.
A thought which was breaking her heart.
She wasn't sure how long she had sat in her chair, waiting for everyone to come in, her mind running through all the ways she could tell them until it focused on one. She would simply tell them the truth, rip of the band aid quickly with no build up.
Swallowing hard she brought her fingertips to her eyes, digging into them as she tried to stop the tears she could already feel threatening to blind her. She breathed out slowly, taking a few extra moments to compose herself before she came to her feet and moved around her desk and out into the main bulpen. She moved to each office, knocking on the door and making a waving motion with her hand when the occupant looked up at her to let them know she needed them. Once that was done she placed herself in the centre of the room next to the computer table which was Chin Ho Kelly's pride and joy and waited.
"Have we a case?" Steve McGarrett asked, coming to a stand next to her, his hands in the pocket of his cargo pants. She ignored the way her heart cracked at the sound of his voice and shook her head, knowing that she would never be able to explore what was between them or tell him that she was in love with him. It wouldn't be fair on him, not when she was leaving. She felt Steve shoot her a quick glance but ignored it, waiting until they were gathered before she moved so she was facing them all, watching the smiles fall off their faces when they noticed her expression.
"Danni?" Kono Kalakaua said, her dark eyes concerned as they flickered away from her to look around the others as though she was trying to see if any of the others knew what was happening. The action brought a smile to her face even as she brought her hand to her heart and rested it against the skin. Taking a deep breathe she spoke, wincing when she heard it cracking.
"I have some news" She said, taking another moment to compose herself before she looked up. "I'm leaving 50" She stated, dropping her eyes as she continued unable to look at them. "In fact we're leaving Hawaii, Grace and I are moving to San Diego. Duncan has…" She stopped and shook her head, silently cursing when she felt a tear escape. She quickly brushed it away and continued. "He has a promotion and the bank is moving him and we have to go with him. If I go with him then he won't sue for custody of Grace and she can remain with me. I… I'm sorry, I really, really am but I'm leaving."
The room was silent, so silent that she was pretty sure she could hear the conversation happening outside on the street perfecly.
"You… you can't, you can't leave 50" Jenna Kaye said, her voice hushed as she shook her head in denial. "You're joking right because you can't leave." She repeated.
"I'm sorry Jenna" Danni said softly, crossing her arms around herself in an attempt to keep it together. "I'm not joking. I leave a week today."
She looked up, looking at their faces, seeing the disbelief, anger and heartache on the others faces. Her eyes stopped on Steve's but his expression was unreadable. He held himself still as though the slightest of movements would crack him.
"Is Duncan blackmailing you?" Riley King demanded furiously "Because if he is then…"
"No breaking his limbs or killing him please Riley" Danni said unable to smile at the other man. "It's just the way it is."
"There has to be a way for you and Gracie to stay here in Hawaii Danni, you've still got so much to see and we're still teaching Grace to surf and everything. You're still teaching me so you can't leave. You have to stay" Kono stated, reaching up and gripping her hair, a sure sign that she was distressed.
"I know Kono but I can't" Danni said. "I tried everything. I spoke to Duncan, we tried to figure out ways it could work like me and Gracie staying here and flying to San Diego every weekend or Grace staying with Duncan for a week and me with a week but nothing we came up with would work."
"It sounds like blackmail to me" Chin said coldly. "Follow me to San Diego or I'll take our child from you and make you come anyway." Danni shrugged suddenly feeling exhausted.
"I spoke to a few judges and they all said the same thing, that this time around I would get joint custody at best rather than sole custody like I have at the moment. The only reason I got sole custody of Grace before was because Duncan was moving around the world every few months or so with his job but this time is different. This time he will be settled in San Diego, his brother lives there as well so he has a home base, not a massive one but more than I do. I even spoke to the Governor but he says he can't get involved this time round or pressurise the courts into judging my way. The only way to keep sole custody of Grace is to move to San Diego. I can't lose my daughter" She said, her voice breaking again.
"Right then" David, her twin said slowly breaking the heavy silence which followed her words. "I'll start making arrangements, Libby and I can get on the same plane as you and Gracie, we'll stay with you while I find somewhere of our own. Steve you should count this as my resignation from the task force as well. Where Danni goes, I go." He said, reaching up and running his hand through his blond hair.
"Davey you don't have to do that. I know you like it here, you…" Danni started to say, stopping when he interrupted her.
"Where you go Danni, I go" David repeated again before he turned and headed back towards his office, clearly intent on getting started on moving his and his young daughter back to the main land. Danni looked after him for a moment before she turned back to the others.
"I guess there's nothing more to say other then I wish I didn't have to go. It's been a… privilege and an honour working with you all and I love you all so you best keep in touch with me. Maybe if you have any leave you can come to the mainland and see us." She forced a smile on her face as she turned and headed to her office, keeping her head held high and trying not to sure just how much her heart was breaking.
Author Note
Thanks for taking the time to read!
An especially big thank you if you've taken the time to leave a review, favourite or follow the story. It means more to me than you know!