Okay, here I am again. ;) So this is mainly a fanfiction based off a few scenes of the episode, "Beautiful Screamer" (I seriously extended them though!). But, I did cut everything into chapters to make it much easier to read. I decided to plunge deeper into the characters' emotions and thoughts, and add a few extra ideas of my own. I gave special attention to Steve comforting Danny a lot too... :) However, there is no slash in this story, no matter how hard you look for it. Just really amazing friendships. :D

I would like to dedicate this story to Book 'em Again, for her kind and helpful review of my other more outlandish Five-O fanfiction, "I Didn't Want To." Thank you so much for the support! It really encouraged me. I would also like to dedicate this fiction to TheKingReigns. They have always stood by me and supported me in all my writings. Thank you so very much, both of you. ;)

Well, that's all. I hope all of you have as much enjoyment reading this story, as I did making it.

Aloha,

~StephenMcGarrett 5-0

My Jane and I

A Hawaii 5-O Fanfiction

CHAPTER 1

The bright, warm rays of the afternoon sun poured into Stephen McGarrett's large office, filling it with golden light. The white, wispy, transparent clouds listlessly drifted through the ocean-blue sky. However, these thin white strands were few and far between in the heavens, so the sun's heat was not restrained in any way.

Time had passed by so quickly; the dawn seemed to have come too soon. It was only but ten hours before when the Five-O team had bid each other goodnight; though their expressions were tense and unsettled. The murder of that young woman, Linda Marsh, was still on all of their minds. They had found her dead a few days ago, strangled in a tennis court. She was going to attend a wedding rehearsal that day after her tennis lesson, but she never got the chance. Furthermore, the wedding rehearsal was for one of Danny's fiancée's friends, and the whole affair had left everyone badly shaken up; not to mention putting a damper on what was meant to be a festive occasion.

There was not much known about the murder yet. The most reliable facts so far were that Linda was not assaulted in any way, and it was safe to guess that her killer had been a man. But there was something particularly disturbing about this homicide… especially what the police had found written on the dead woman's legs. It brought the same question into all of their anxious and perturbed minds. Was this the beginning of a serial killing? What was the poem written in lip-stick on Lind Marsh's legs all about? Was this sick person taunting them, or giving them a disguised clue as to who his next victim would be?

And every woe a tear can claim, except an erring sisters' shame.

Sisters'… That was the one thing about it that was really bothering them. Even if none of the Five-O team really wanted to admit it, they all knew in their hearts that there was going to be another killing. The apostrophe after the s could not mean any other thing.

Now, Danny, Chin, Kono, and Steve were back at Five-O headquarters, in McGarrett's office; nothing had really changed though. There wasn't any new evidence, they were still waiting for the lab results from the crime scene, and the only other things they had to go on were mere assumptions. Nevertheless, they didn't give way to discouragement. As long as there was still breath in each and every one of them, there was a chance that the crime could be solved. The Five-O team had come across even more complicated cases than this one; cases that had begun with no evidence at all. Yet even then, they had still been able to solve the crime. Now, it was time to put their brilliant detective skills to the test yet again.

Stephen McGarrett was talking at the moment, his keen and intense gaze switching from one member of his team to the other. He paced back and forth fervidly as he tried to piece together what little facts they did have in his mind. The tone and pitch of his voice changed various times as he threw different theories through the room's apprehensive air. But even though Steve tried with passionate verve to bring to life the real crime, the truth was just not falling into his grasp. Still nonetheless, McGarrett pursued the insubstantial evidence with ruthless vigor. If one theory didn't work, he would try another, and another, and another! The head of Five-O had promised protection and justice to all of the citizens of Hawaii, and he meant to keep that promise. Stephen McGarrett was prepared to give his all to this case, as he had for ever other one he had dealt with. The determined detective would not give up, until he had nothing left to give.

Chin Ho Kelly sat in a broad chair in the corner, a pipe held firmly between his lips. Occasionally, he would let out a puff of smoke or add a comment, but besides that, he was listening intently. His expression although relaxed, was alert.

Kono Kalakua leaned against Chin's chair in a rather casual way, his deep brown eyes following the repeated path of his boss back and forth across the well-groomed carpet. However, even though the Hawaiian man was listening quietly, the distant look in his features showed that he was musing upon his own thoughts. But, for the most part, he too was paying close attention.

Daniel Williams on the other hand, who sat nearest to one of tall open windows, didn't exactly seem in touch with reality. His unmoving eye-lids were closed over his usually lively eyes, and his head was tilted back against his chair. His face, which had been red with color the day before, was now a cold and pasty shade of white. The balmy wind silently wafted in through the window, and gently brushed through the young man's blonde hair, shifting some of its curls.

This kind of behavior was definitely unlike Danny, but then again he did have a somewhat plausible excuse. Last night, the youngest member of Five-O hadn't been able to sleep at all because of his restless and troubled spirit. Linda's murder had so greatly disturbed him that he could not even find the peace to slumber. And even when he did dose off, his dreams were filled with grotesque imagery that awoke him in a cold sweat. It did not help either to wake alone in the darkness with a bleak, sallow moon peering in through the window. The atmosphere itself brought a new sense of dread.

But here in McGarrett's office, the temperate Hawaiian sun that bathed the room felt so soothing…. And the swaying of the nearby palm trees outside sounded like a melodic, calming lullaby in and of themselves. It was so peaceful, not to mention comfortable. Danny felt his head lolling to the side, and drowsiness gently pulling him away from the light. He knew he had to stay awake and keep focused on what was going on, but he just couldn't seem to make his eyelids cooperate with him. They kept closing time after time, and it was becoming increasingly harder to get them open again. No matter how much he wanted to pull away from the sweet world of sleep, Danny was fighting a losing battle. His body was literally pleading with him to give in to the warm sensation of slumber, and how could he refuse? The lure was too strong and too persuasive.

Steve was saying something and by his heated tone, it must have been important. Maybe even very important. Danny should have been listening to whatever it was, but he wasn't. By now, he was just over the threshold of unconsciousness and his perceptions had grown very dim. An extremely loud noise was the only thing that was going to wake him now. Danny was sinking still deeper into his slumber when Steve suddenly gripped his chair and shouted,

"One single particle from an ordinary house-hold glove! That's all we have. That's all!" Stephen McGarrett's eyes were now hot with rage and disgust, and they searched about the room in an almost wild fashion. "What does that prove?" he paused for a second, just before throwing up his hands in the air and answering his own rhetorical question. "So the murderer wore gloves! No footprints, no fingerprints, no DNA…. Nothing! This sick person is going to strike again, at another helpless female victim, and what can we do to stop him?" Steve glared at the wall in silence for a second, a frustrated expression cut deeply into the concerned lines of his face. Chin and Kono could see the pain and fear sweltering in Steve's sapphire eyes, which tossed and turned like oceans of fire. He was really upset.

"You're trying your best, boss," Chin stated soothingly, his small brown eyes filled with empathy for his respected leader. "So are we. What more can you ask of yourself?"

Kono nodded his head in agreement and confirmed seriously, "Chin's right, Steve." His expression then filled with optimism and he shrugged his shoulders before adding, "Maybe when the lab results come in, there will be more incriminating evidence."

Steve didn't even consider the idea. He immediately shook his head in total disagreement, and then ran his fingers through his slick brown hair. "No," he replied grimly, settling down a little. "If this man was smart enough to wear gloves, he's smart enough to cover the rest of his tracks as well." Steve took in a deep breath and wiped the beads of sweat from his weary brow. After he seemed to have calmed fully, he sighed unhappily and said, "We're not dealing with an amateur. That's for sure."

Silence hung heavy in the air for an extended period of time following this declaration, and each man was lost in his own private thoughts. But all too soon, the reticence was broken. Steve's hands worked in and out of weak fists, (as they often did when he was nervous) and the intensity in his expression was heightening; he hadn't vented all of his frustration and worry yet. Finally, he slammed his fist down on Danny's chair and released his rage and disappointment. The young man that occupied it stirred a little, but only turned his head to the other side. The quick movement had been a nuisance to him, but it wasn't enough to rouse him from his dormant state of mind. Danny was still lost in peaceful sleep.

"I believe this killer is so smart," Steve started, the volume of his tone beginning to heighten again and his fingers curling in a death-grip around the leather of Danny's chair. "that he'll be able to carry out another murder before we can catch him. And what if he doesn't leave any evidence at that killing, what then?" The waves of anxiety and discouragement within the seas of McGarrett's eyes were starting to grow tempestuous again; whipping up and down with greater emotion than ever before. "Does he continue to kill, and kill, and kill, until all of Hawaii's streets run red with innocent blood?!"

"Steve!" Chin shouted out suddenly, unable to watch his boss do this to himself. The Chinese man hastily placed his pipe down, got up from his chair, and took McGarrett by his arms. The two males stared into each other's eyes with different, mixed emotions. Steve's were filled with great burdens, sorrow, and exhaustion, and many other feelings that cannot be described. Chin's shone with concern and weariness, yet they also glimmered with a small spark of hope.

"We are going to find this man, boss." the Chinese man avowed, looking straight into his leader's eyes with undying loyalty and perseverance. "You are going to find him with God's help. Remember, you're Steve McGarrett."

Stephen McGarrett's eyes softened with love and reverence when he heard Chin Ho's words, but they also held deep hopelessness and humility. The head of Five-O smiled back at Chin sadly, before turning his face away from his friends and hiding the despondency scarred deep within it.

"That's just a name, Chin," he replied in a low, cheerless murmur. "And I'm just a man. Yes, perhaps God has given me a good brain, but that's all. All my wisdom comes from Him, and Him alone." Steve's dark expression then lightened a little more. He turned back to face his men with admiration, and tried to smile at them as he spoke the next words. But instead, it came out as a lopsided grin. "Also, you all know that I couldn't solve anything without the three of you."

Kono's and Chin's troubled faces filled with joy when they heard this, and some of the stress in the tense atmosphere faded away.

"Thanks, boss," they both replied, smiles replacing tightly pressed lips on their simple yet pleasant features.

Steve's grin lingered for but a moment longer, before it was lost again in the fearful dread that still gripped his throbbing heart. He paced the carpeted floors of his office once more, his brow slanting into an even deeper frown. "I've seen it hundreds of times before, and yet it still doesn't make sense to me how a man could do this to a woman." He whispered gravely, as he slowly shook his head in unsaid abhorrence. A little bit of water was beginning to grow in his fixed eyes, which were darkened by anger and uncertainty. "To kill a helpless female for absolutely no reason;" he continued in a low tone, his face tightening with strict concentration. "Maybe he believes he's justified in what he's doing by motives of his own psychotic brain. He doesn't see how much he's hurting them…" a solitary tear finally found its way down Steve's cheek and his jaw stiffened. "He can only feel his pain and hurt. He doesn't care if they scream and beg for mercy. He only cares about gratifying his selfish, depraved state of mind…" This was too unendurable for Steve's self-control now and he let loose yet another time, bringing his fist down hard upon his desk. "Oh God, why!?" he exclaimed in utter misery and indignation.

Danny's eyes suddenly flew open when he heard Steve's anguish-filled cry, and he let out a small gasp before jerking up sharply in his chair. His heart was thudding fast against his chest, and a small tremor of surprise and shock went through his frame before he finally realized what was going on. The severity of Steve's voice had violently torn the young man from his much-needed rest, and had startled him greatly.

The office was quiet for a while longer, and Danny's racing heart gradually began to beat regularly again. His anxious azure eyes then darted all around the room in a quick attempt to find the cause of Steve's distress. When he came to the conclusion that there was no such thing, Danny looked back at the Five-O team with puzzlement and bleariness.

Even though the environment of the room was still uptight, Chin could not help but let out an amused chuckle when Danny turned to look at him with wide, hazy, dilating, eyes. He was quite a humorous sight at the time; it was good to find some comic relief after the very serious conversation that had been leaping back and forth against the walls. The Chinese man's round belly shook a little with unbidden laughter, and he stared back at Danny with a cheery grin.

"Pleasant dreams?" he asked, picking up his pipe and placing it in his mouth again.

Danny's only response at first was to blink. He was still rather groggy about what had happened, and he was still trying to get back into his soberness. The last thing he could remember was that they had been talking about the murder, and trying to find out a not yet established pattern for the potential serial killings. Steve had been getting passionate about how cruel the killing was, when Danny had dozed off. The sun, the palm trees, the wind… all lulling him to sleep. Danny's eyes filled with slight bewilderment and he scratched the back of his neck. Had he really fallen asleep? How long had he been asleep? Danny finally managed to get things back together (though in an unhurried fashion), and opened his mouth to offer a reasonable explanation to Chin and the rest of the team. But before the words even left his mouth, Kono shook his head and interjected,

"No, he probably had a nightmare. Did you see the way he nearly leapt out of his chair?" The big Hawaiian's eyes filled with playful teasing; he let out a little entertained snort and grinned at the young man still gripping his seat with white knuckles. But when Kono observed Danny more carefully, a small amount of worry skated across his joyful irises. The youngest member of Five-O looked a bit nervous, incredibly drained, and somewhat sick. Kono's teasing expression progressively transformed into one of a troubled friend, and he questioned considerately, "What's the matter, Danny? You don't look so good."

Danny felt his cheeks blush red with embarrassment after the mild tease he had received from Kono. Perhaps he deserved it… It was wrong for him to have fallen asleep. At first, he bowed his face in lowly shame and placed his forehead in his hand. The air was hushed for a long while during and following this motion, but even then, Danny could still feel the concerned and perhaps compassionate stares from his colleagues upon him. Finally, the blonde raised his face from his palm and looked at all of his team-mates with earnestly apologetic eyes. "I'm really sorry about that," he stated with sincere repentance, his voice slightly hoarse and gruff from his slumber. "I wasn't able to get a good sleep last night…"

Steve watched Danny carefully as he spoke, and he could see the dark lines of fatigue beneath his friend's golden lashes. They alone were strong evidence for his confession. He too, like the rest of them, had lost needed sleep over this horrible presumed prelude to a series of serial killings. Steve couldn't say that he blamed him. His heart was also heavy with the growing fear of what was soon to come. It gnawed at him every waking moment, and haunted him in every hour of the dark of the night. Indeed, it was almost as if they were waiting here until the terrible news came upon them… waiting for another corpse to drop at their feet. And Steve despised that waiting, unknowing feeling. He hated that he couldn't do anything to prevent another life from being taken from the world. He hated that he couldn't protect one of his people from the hideous fate that would soon befall them. Yes, perhaps some people would say that the Hawaiian people were not Stephen McGarrett's true people. The color of their skin was different from his, and the very blood that flowed in each of their veins was diverse. But the color a man's skin does not dictate his convictions and beliefs. McGarrett knew that better than anyone else. He truly loved and cared about these people, and called them his own despite the fact that they did not share the same skin color. Every Hawaiian that died was a knife into McGarrett's heart; wasted potential that could have been used in God's plan. It killed him inside when it happened, and he absolutely loathed it.

The fury and hurt burned in Steve's soul again as he pondered these ideas, but he would not let the compelling emotions of his heart find their way onto his face. He only nodded sympathetically, and rested a hand on Danny's arm. "No worries, Danno," he answered in a relaxed tone, making sure to squeeze the younger man's shoulder to reassure him of his understanding. Great kindness and love then filled those dark blue crystals that had seen so much death, pain, and grief. "I'll ask Jenny to bring in a nice cup of hot coffee for you." Steve said caringly, allowing his palm to linger upon Danny's shoulder for a little while longer. "It should help a great deal."

Danny felt the taut muscles in his shoulders loosen up a bit, and some of the weighty load was taken off his mind. He then turned to gaze up into Steve's face; he could see the pity and unsaid knowledge clearly engraved in the expressive lines of his leader's features. Reverence and great sorrow for his dearly-loved boss suddenly burned in Danny's eyes and he thought to himself bleakly, Sometimes it looks as if the whole world has fallen upon his shoulders…

Danny tried to smile back up at Steve, as if endeavoring to lift his fraught mood. McGarrett smiled back at him gratefully, but inwardly, he scolded himself for showing such emotions to his friend. Danny already had enough to deal with; why encumber him with other burdens that were not his to carry? Thereafter, Steve made sure to hide the rest of his feelings, as well as vow to himself that he would not allow his eyes to betray him again.

After Danny was silently assured by Steve that he was fine, the young cop turned away from his boss, breathed out a deep sigh, and readily nodded his consent. His usual seriousness and alertness were slowly but steadily returning to his face. "Yeah. I could definitely use a cup of coffee right now." He replied, rubbing his temples.

Steve's eyes filled with deeper concern for a moment as he watched Danny's expression darken with weariness and discouragement again. It was plainly apparent that he was trying to hide his doubts and fears, though unsuccessfully. McGarrett then remembered his own thoughts to himself only but a few seconds ago. How many times have I also concealed my feelings? Steve wondered to himself grimly. Danny was picking up on a lot of the habits of his leader, and it seemed as if he was beginning to put them into practice. Steve was flattered by this fact, but it also bothered him a bit. There were some aspects of himself that he didn't want Danny to imitate.

For a brief second, the head of Five-O began consider if this case was too much for the man that sat before him. Danny was still young; he had not yet seen and experienced the entire #!*% of crime. There were still many things he hadn't heard of or looked upon, and Steve wished he would never have to either. Certain things haunted a cop… forever.

There was also another reason for these somber considerations though. The murdered woman, Linda Marsh, was a close friend to Danny's fiancée, Jane Michaels. He had actually known her. Perhaps this was getting a little too personal…

In another second, Steve opened his mouth to suggest that Danny should go home and get some rest. But before anything came out, his smart mind already knew it would do no good. Danny was a determined man, and he loved the people who lived in Hawaii, just as Steve did. Also, the deceased was his girlfriend's best and closest friend. Would Danny really just back away from the case while justice was not yet served, just because it irked him a little? No. That wasn't like Danny at all. He would remain with the team until the case had been solved. Steve knew this and he immediately dismissed his former thoughts and shut his mouth. He had to remember that Danny was a man as well as a cop; he could handle this.

Can he? The two words bounced to and fro against McGarrett's brain, bringing his prior doubts to the surface again. But Steve hastily shook his head, perhaps trying to shake away these misgivings as well. Danny could endure this, he was a man. But even though Steve viewed Danny like this in his mind, in his heart, he sometimes viewed the junior cop like a boy; someone who still needed to be guided and in some circumstances, sheltered.

McGarrett took one more glance at Danny before finally pulling away from the deep fathoms of his reflections, and starting towards the phone on his desk. Danny would tell him if this case was too difficult for him to deal with; he would tell him if something was wrong. Danny trusted Steve greatly and because of that, he would inform the senior cop if the case was getting too heavy for him. McGarrett closed his eyes momentarily and gave a slight nod of his head in willing agreement. His conscious was right; he had to trust Danny.