It'd gone to hell so quickly.
More quickly than normal.

The 5-0 task force had been investigating gun runners in a team op with the coast guard. The coast guard knew they were using coves on the west side of the island. The runners were too well organized always a step ahead. The 5=0 team had put up surveillance and caught a break. They'd known when a shipment was coming in. At that time they'd moved in. Busted a raid just normal police stuff.

Then two more boats had come in. Steve had the guard on standby. They came in lights blazing. The boat closest to the 5-0 team made an escape attempt going full throttle for the far end of the cove. They never made it hitting a submerged rock and flipping over. Three were fished out by the coast guard and one by Chin. The last guy got to shore and ran. Kono being closest went after him.

"Danny!"Steve shouted into the com as he followed Kono.

"I saw."Danny affirmed."I'm right behind you."

Steve made it to the top of the hill. Between the lights from the boats and the moon Steve could see well enough. Kono was struggling with the smuggler far too close to the cliff edge. Cursing silently. He started running. Even as he did Steve knew he wouldn't get there in time. Thirty feet away and Steve saw the cliffside give way. He watched in horror as both Kono and the gunrunner toppled over the cliff. It was a sheer five hundred foot drop to the ocean.

"No!"Steve yelled as he ran.

Please God...Steve prayed silently as he reached the edge. Losing a teammate wasn't foreign to Steve. He'd lost far too many over the years. Adding Kono to that list would be unbearable. Dirt flew as Danny skidded to a stop next to him. They both peered over the edge but all they saw was water.

"She could've..."Danny began then stopped."I'll get the coast guard to..."

"Help!"

It was faint barely audible over the wind and crashing surf but Steve would know that voice anywhere.

"Kono!"Steve called in relief as he dropped to his knees and turning on his flashlight.

"Oh God."Danny whispered when the light found its target.

Kono was clinging to a vine about two hundred feet down.

Steve dropped to his knees. The ground crumbled causing Danny to get a grip on the back of Steve's shirt collar. Ready to haul them to safer ground at a moment's notice.

"Help's coming, Kono."Steve called down.

"Hurry."The young woman replied.

Steve and Danny scrambled back from the edge and Steve began making phone calls. Luck was with them. One of the Coast guard boats had a small helicopter on board. It took a few minutes to get it fueled and in the air. In that time Danny had alerted Chin to his cousin's situation and their colleague joined them. The three watched as the chopper moved closer


Officer Kono Kalakaua had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming. She would not scream. She was an officer of the law. Though at that moment dangling by a thin vine a hundred feet from the ocean Kono did not feel like the breve, strong cop. She tightened her grip on the vine and was never so happy to hear a helicopter. Kono turned and saw the coast guard chopper headed her way. That was when her sweaty hands slipped and she couldn't help but scream.


Steve heard it even over the noise of the chopper he heard Kono's scream. He raced to the edge in time to see the young woman slip a few inches down the vine. Steve was sure he stopped breathing and didn't start again until he saw Kono get a more secure hold. Next to him Danny sighed in relief and glanced at Chin.

"Your cousin has nine lives."Danny commented as he ran a hand through his blond hair.

"She's used up a couple tonight."Chin replied grimly his dark gaze tracking the helicopter's progress.

As the five-o team watched the helicopter reached Kono. With in minutes the coast guard officer had Kono on board. They lifted into the air and flew over Kono's team. The chopper landed twenty feet away.


As they landed one of the coast guards medics checked Kono over. She had a few bruises and cuts from her fall. Her hands were raw and cut from holding onto the vine. The medic had just started to treat and bandage them when they landed. Kono smiled at the three men who were now gathered at the chopper's open door. She broke free of the medic for a moment to give Chin a quick hug.

"I'm okay."Kono stated.

Chin nodded and pulled back. Kono glanced at her boss.

"The smuggler didn't surface after he fell."Kono reported.

"Probably broke his neck on impact."Steve agreed grimly. "I'll have the coast guard start searching."

Danny and Chin returned to their duties down by the cove. Kono emerged from the helicopter a few minutes later newly bandaged and she was surprised to find Steve waiting. He put away his phone and waved thanks to the coast guard officers as the chopper lifted skyward once more.

"Did you not realize how close to the edge you were?"Steve began anger clipping each word.

Kono braced herself for the lecture that was coming.

"I did and thought I could move us back."Kono explained quietly. "Ground gave way before I could."

"I know I saw you go over."Steve stated as he ran a hand through his short dark hair.

Kono remained silent not sure what to say. Her boss's blue eyes were dark with a mixture of emotions some she couldn't define. With a sigh Steve took a step forward and gently gripped Kono's shoulders. He looked down at her bandaged hands and then back to her face.

"I'm glad you're okay."Steve began softly. "But you took ten years off me….thought I'd lost you."

"I'm sorry."Kono replied. "All I could think about was not letting him get away."

"Come on let's get back down to the others. We have an op to wrap up."Steve suggested.

They descended the hill in companionable silence. Kono was trying not to think of how close she'd come to death. She knew that reaction would come later. For now she was just grateful to still be alive; to be making a difference.

end