Well, here I am again. This story is something strange and is shreding my emotions. I hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: All the characters and situations inherent in the Hawaii five-0 TV show are owned by its creators and CBS. They are taken back for entertainment purposes only. No money or goods have been exchanged in the publishing of this story.

A small warning. Contains difficult topics with situations of abuse and mistreatment. But don't worry, there will be nothing graphic or too violent. I will try to handle the issue delicately. Thank you for reading. Here it goes

My ghosts of yesterday

Chapter 1: Where they come from and where they are?

Steve parks his truck in the driveway to his house, shuts down the engine and loud sighs. He doesn't want to get home. Since two weeks ago, he's afraid of the moment when he opens the door, turns off the alarm and gets in. Why is this happenning?

The answer is easy. Because it's at that moment when the ghosts invade him. Sometimes he doesn't want to turn on the light not to see them. They lurk from the walls, the desk and the shelves. From the numerous smiling pictures and memories accumulated over the years.

Today, as every day since two weeks ago, flees to the private beach. He wants to hear the ocean and plunge into the water to avoid thinking. Even avoids to stop at the fridge for a beer, he just want to get out of here.

On the way to the beach takes a towel from the closet, and a couple of pills from the first drawer in the kitchen that swallows with the help of a little water and goes through the doors of the terrace. The breeze caresses his face and takes a deep breath, trying to lessen the pain, his eyes throb and he has nausea. Tries another couple of deep breaths and keeps walking.

Slowly removes his clothes on the road, leaving his boxers. Carefully places the shirt and cargo pants, together with the towel on one of the wooden chairs and slowly walks towards the water. He always liked swimming in the moonless nights, the freshness of the water touching his skin as a layer of silk. The way that he floats easily on his back, dipping his head just a little so water covers his ears and attenuates the noise. The way in which the stars are reflected in the water. In a moonless night, it's not possible to identify the horizon and seems like the sky continues with the sea. Then peace comes and it's easier to think.

There, floating in the water, he tries to identifying the reasons why everything is happening. One of them is, of course, Junior. He finally found an apartment where they allow him to spend time with Eddie. It's close to the office, it is spacious and bright. And he has moved two weeks ago. Since then, the house is deadly quiet and dark.

It is also true that he was alone before Junior showed up, but before that, he was not afraid. Ironically, the great Steve McGarrett is afraid. What leads him to think of the reason number two. He's worried, although he'll never admit that to anyone. Well, maybe Danny, but nobody else.

Migraines are back since two weeks ago. He had suffered them when he was a kid, but had never felt one for over twenty-five years. The doctor ordered some clinical tests and said that they are probably related to radiation poisoning and stress, but he doesn't think so. They came back because the ghosts.

Still floating, lets the mumbles from the outside mix with his thoughts. Gradually relaxes and the pain goes down. Lately he has thought very much about the ghosts, as they have been growing over time, the old ghosts invites the new ones and all together make a party in his head, tormenting him. The oldest, the ghosts of his adolescence, when the people he loved began to leave him alone, when he opened the space in his mind and in his heart to give them a place to hide.

Step by step they were accumulating and met with the ghosts of his military life. They heckle him more and cause his nightmares . The Navy had forced him to deal with them, through periodic consultations with specialists to treat PTSD. But they refused to leave.

When he returned to Hawaii, after being transferred to the reserves, and the governor offered him Five-0, new ghosts came to mix with the old ones, but now no one forces him to deal with them. It is true he must attend his annual sessions with those useless therapists, who only focuses on his ''dysfunctional relationship'' with Danny. If they knew the problem is not really that! He only hopes the therapists understand this "dysfunctional relationship" is the only thing which really allows him to deal with the ghosts.

Suddenly he has a strange feeling breaking the thread of his thoughts. The unmistakable feeling of being observed. Slowly straightens his body and starts to move the legs to stay afloat looking toward the House. He just realized that tide has taken him a little further, so he begins to swim toward the shore. Now he can see him. Next to the chairs there is someone standing.

Speak of the devil…

Steve cannot help but smile. It's like Danny has occasionally a sixth sense that is activated when mood requires it. While swims the few yards separating him from the shore, thinks if he's ready for the usual rant right now, but the truth is Danny also knows when to shut up. Yes, of course many of those who know him would laugh at this statement. But so it is. Steve only hopes his friend's sixth sense to work today, because he thinks he's not able to withstand a session of arguments.

As soon as his feet can touch the bottom, begins to walk toward the chairs, looking at Danny who greets him "Hey..."

Steve just answer "Hey" takes his towel and places it on his shoulders. Apparently, Danny's sixth sense has hit the target today. Danny sits in one of the chairs and says "when you went out of the office today, were so silent and you looked so sad, so I thought you could use some company".

Steve sighs and sits in the other chair, extends his legs and closes his eyes, letting the breeze to finish drying his skin.

They have been seated there, staring where the ocean joins the sky, for more than twenty minutes, without saying a single word. Steve suddenly straightens up and asks "are you hungry? Indian food?" Danny chuckles recalling that time he tried Indian food and mango chutney for the first time with Steve. That time he let Danny see a part of his soul talking to him about his passion for music and some other things. "It sounds good to me" Danny answers while gets up. Both walk towards the house.

After ordering the food, Steve tells Danny "I'm going to take a shower. I'll be back in a moment" and goes upstairs to come back exactly five minutes later, wearing shorts and the Navy Academy t-shirt. Danny is sitting in front of the kitchen counter, reading the newspaper and drinking a cold beer. Steve opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of water, opens it and drinks a big swallow. Danny looks at him and says "What, not beer today?"

"Not today, I have migraine" Steve answers. Danny looks at him concerned, but says nothing.

Someone knocks on the door, Danny moves like he's going to get up, but Steve stops him while takes his wallet from one of the pockets of his cargo pants. "Today, dinner is on me" and goes to open the door. But there is no food.

Grace is standing at the door.