The first call came through at 4.53 in the afternoon and Steve didn't answer. He didn't recognise the number and he certainly wasn't going to pause in the middle of tracking gun runners through the jungle just to find out why some random company can offer him better insurance rates or why their hair care product is better than all the others. He really hated cold callers.

The second call came a few minutes later at 4.57 as Steve was hunkered down behind a felled tree as bullets ripped past his head. He was so focused on him and Danny and the automatic gunfire that he didn't even hear the phone ringing.

At 5.10, the call went straight to voicemail as Danny was sitting on top of one of their handcuffed suspects to prevent his pants from getting any muddier and Steve was calling in their location to Chin and Kono, trying to explain to the latter that he was sorry she'd missed this gunfight and promising to phone her in next time.

The fourth time Steve actually answered, though it was a close run thing. By this point it was 6.00pm and only he and Danny were left at the office. The phone had rung and Steve had taken quite some time to locate which of his many pockets it was in. Danny had made some smug comment about why cargo pants were stupid. Steve responded by throwing a pencil at his head, answering the phone as he did.

He knew the second they spoke something was wrong.

"Mr McGarrett?"

"Who is this?"

"This is Dr. Saunders, I'm afraid I have some bad news."

Steve's heart stopped. It didn't take a genius to work out who they must be talking about. Danny was right there in front of him and she was his only living relative.

"What is it? Is Mary ok? What's happened?" Danny stood up from the desk and moved over to where Steve was standing, a questioning look in his eye. It was no secret that Danny and Steve's sister got along like a house on fire and it was somehow reassuring for Steve to know that there was someone else there who'd care if something had happened to her.

"Your sister Mary was involved in a car accident a few hours ago; she was brought to Queen's Medical Centre. She's in surgery now an-"

"Surgery? How bad is it?"

"Mr McGarrett, I would really advise you to come to the hospital as soon as possible."

Steve felt all his breath rush out of his chest at once and he deflated against the edge of his desk. He nodded briefly before remembering he couldn't be seen. "Of course. I'll be there as soon as I can."

He didn't even bother hanging up; just put the phone back in his pocket and begun rummaging frantically for his car keys.

"Hey Babe, what's happened?" Danny's tone was the same that he used to console weeping widows or panicked victims. Steve found that it was oddly soothing.

"It's Mary. She was in some car accident, I didn't even know she was in Hawaii, she's in hospital right now and I have to go, Danny. I need to-"

"I'm driving." Danny stated removing the keys from his pocket and marching toward the door, tone showing Steve had no choice but to dumbly follow him. He didn't really even remember the walk to the car. For the hell of it he opened his mouth to protest but Danny just raised a hand.

"One," Danny said, already climbing into the car as Steve did the same, "You are in no state to drive." Steve took one look at his shaking hands and decided Danny was probably right "And two," the other man added, "This is my car." And he tried for a smile that fell flat but was comforting all the same.

They peeled out of the car park and this was probably the most reckless Steve had seen Danny drive. He didn't even notice when Danny turned on the lights and siren, too wrapped up in his own thoughts.

Danny himself was worried for Steve. The man was barely holding it together as it was, always inches away from shattering into pieces, and from the white knuckled clench Steve had on the door handle that iron control of his was slowly slipping. Danny was terrified that if Steve lost Mary it might just break him for good and if that happened? If that happened then Danny didn't even know what he might do because somehow, aside from Grace, meeting that crazy bastard had been the best thing that ever happened to him.

Danny skipped every red light going to get them there as fast as possible. Steve didn't even wait for the car to stop, just hopped out the moving vehicle as it slowed into the parking lot leaving Danny to park and chase after him.

"I need the room number for Mary McGarrett." Steve barked at the woman behind the reception desk, his Navy SEAL mask firmly in place.

"I'm sorry Sir but I can't just giv-"

"Don't give me that bullshit just tell me-" His voice was beginning to crack and he was breathing heavily. The raised voice was punctuated by his hand slamming down on the desk, she jerked back in her seat looking, unsurprisingly, shocked. Steve could be really scary when he wanted to be. Danny's gentle hand on his back gave him pause enough that the man could place his badge on the desk.

"Detective Williams, Commander McGarrett, Five-0." He indicated the two of them "We're going to need that room number, Miss." The woman just nodded and begun typing away frantically at her computer and the hand on Steve's back begun to rub calming circles. Steve's face remained blank.

"I'm sorry sir but it appears Miss McGarrett is still in surgery. Dr Saunders is her Doctor though. Her office can be found on the third floor." Steve left without another word and Danny only managed a nod before following after him. The elevator opened as they reached it and Danny couldn't help but be glad of that small blessing as things would almost certainly have been punched or thrown had there been any delay.

"Steve-"

"Danny, please don't." And it isn't like Danny to actually listen, except Steve's voice was soft and forced and fraying around the edges and he looked so thoroughly wrecked that Danny was stopped in his tracks.

He had very little time to dwell on anything as the elevator soon shuddered to a halt and Steve was gone the second that the doors opened. Danny almost had to jog to keep up as Steve continued to just march ahead and was so worried he almost walked straight into the man when he stopped suddenly in front of a door.

He had to wince at the force with which Steve knocked on the door. He could practically hear the wood fracturing.

"Yes?" The woman who answered the door was middle aged. Her hair was blonde although clearly in the process of turning grey and a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses sat on the bridge of her nose. She was also remarkably calm for someone who had just almost had their door knocked down.

"Dr Saunders?"

"Yes. Commander McGarrett I presume?" she looked between them briefly and must have seen a flicker of confusion in one of their eyes. "You have quite the reputation at this hospital given the regularity of your visits."

"How's my sister?" Her expression softened somewhat.

"Commander, I suggest you come into my office so we can talk... alone." Danny was about to back away and allow Steve to go but the man was suddenly clutching at his hand and gripping tightly.

"Anything you need to say, it's ok, Danny can hear." And he gave the smaller man's hand a squeeze. Danny can ignore his own feelings for a while if this is what Steve needs. If this will help him hold it together then Danny won't argue.

The doctor sends him an appraising look before nodding and leading them both into her office.

"How's Mary?" Steve asks again, the desperation seeping back into his voice. The Doctor merely gestured him into a seat and waited for him to sit in it, Danny sank down next to him with his hand still firmly in Steve's iron grip.

"Commander McGarrett, there is no easy way to tell you this but I'm afraid since I phoned you Mary has passed away." The already harsh grip on his fingers tightened and Danny allowed himself to squeeze back. "The surgeons continued operating as long as they could but it would seem there was more extensive internal damage done than they originally feared. There was nothing more we could do for you sister. I am so sorry."

And Steve just deflated completely. Danny felt him sag in his chair and drag in a shaky breath. His fingers went limp around the smaller man's hand and his head dropped forward. He just looked so broken. Like someone had cut everyone of his strings. Danny couldn't bear it and readjusted his arm so he could link their fingers together; gripping the larger hand tightly, thumb running circles on the back of it. He could feel his own heart clench at the thought of Mary's death but Steve needed him right now. He could deal with his feelings later.

"Abigail, on the other hand" The doctor continued "made it out almost unscathed, it was mirac-"

"I'm sorry," Danny interrupted when he saw Steve wasn't going to "who's Abigail?"

"You mean you didn't know?"

"We didn't know what?" Steve was looking up now, SEAL stone mask firmly in place. He was sitting up with his back rigid straight and Danny couldn't quite decide if this was worse than before or better. Steve had changed a lot since he moved to Hawaii but right now Steve looked no different from the man he had been when he and Danny first met, guns drawn. He painted the perfect image of a Navy SEAL except for the part where their hands were still joined on the arm of his chair.

Both the doctor and Danny took a moment to look at Steve before Dr. Saunders continued, "Commander, when was the last time you saw your sister?"

"About eight months ago." He managed finally, voice forced into being level and doing a good job of it to anyone who didn't know him like Danny did "We are - " He caught himself at the last minute and had to swallow hard before continuing "We were never very good at communicating. Now who is Abigail?" There was a steely undertone in his voice now that Danny recognised from interrogations.

"Commander, I'm really not quite sure how to say this but Abigail is your sister's daughter."