The Five-0 team was relaxing at a popular bar Wednesday evening after work. They were sharing Chicken Wings and sipping beers while sitting at an outdoor patio booth on a warm Hawaiian evening.
Danny had arranged the outing for his partner's benefit. Steve had experienced a heartbreaking breakup a couple of weeks ago and he just didn't seem to be getting over it at all, in fact he was becomming more depressed...and more difficult to deal with.
He had been dating Shauna for several months and his heart had been won over. He had even 'hinted' to Danny that she was 'the one' and that he might be popping the question soon. Danny liked Shauna but he still held out hopes that Steve would take the next step with Catherine Rollins. Something had happened between them though, and whatever it was Steve was not yet willing to share the details with him. Whenever he brought up Cath's name, Steve would get angry and change the subject so he had simply stopped mentioning her.
Then he had met Shauna Callaway. She was an executive at a major Hotel chain in Oahu and she had helped Five-0 when they needed to set up a drug raid to take down a major Columbian drug lord who had been staying at the Hotel. She had butted heads immediately with the hard-nosed SEAL, as she had legitimate concerns as to what the publicity of this raid would do to her Hotel's reputation. After much wrangling, Steve has able to convince her that the raid had to happen and once it was done he had gone out of his way to provide television interviews touting the Hotel's cooperation in apprehending and bringing to justice this vicious drug lord. The next day Shauna invited Steve to dinner at the Hotel and the rest was history...
Things seemed to be going wonderfully and it had gotten to a point where every spare moment Steve had was spent with Shauna. If Danny was totally honest, he resented her in a way...he missed his friend. But he was happy for Steve. He hadn't seen the SEAL this happy in the three years he had known him. Then two weeks ago, everything had changed.
She had told Steve she would be in New York for a convention for four days. Five-0 was working a case and Steve and Danny had followed a suspect to a high class nightclub late one evening. While in the club they spotted Shauna in a very compromising position with the owner of the nightclub. They were sitting in a corner booth. Several bottles of alcohol littered the table and the two were kissing passionately.
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2 weeks ago...
Danny grabbed his partner's arm pulling him towards the bar. "Hey, come here...sit down"
"Danny...what the...?"
"I don't know buddy, but you've gotta listen to me"
Steve sat staring at the scene taking place fifty feet away in the corner booth. He seemed oblivious to Danny's words.
"Steve...STEVE...look at me!"
Steve turned to his partner and Danny saw the raw pain in his friend's blue eyes.
"Steve, I'm sorry. But I need you to stay focused now partner. We can't draw attention to ourselves and we sure in the hell can't lose Everett. Do you hear me?"
"Yeah Danno...I hear you"
Danny ordered a couple of beers from the bartender and the men sat, not speaking, as they watched Everett on the dance floor. Watching his partner out of the corner of his eye, Danny would see Steve occasionally turn to look at Shauna. The club was very busy and he figured she probably would never notice them...she was after all, quite pre-occupied. About half an hour passed when Danny noticed Steve tense and sit forward on this barstool. Danny turned to see Shauna and the man heading into his office, his hands busily groping her backside. Knowing Steve as he did, he decided to say nothing. The SEAL would talk, when he was ready to.
More than an hour passed before Everett and his party left the club. Steve and Danny followed him, both noting that Shauna still remained behind the closed doors of the managers office. It was 11:30 and Chin and Kono were due to take over the surveillance at midnight. Once they were in the car and following Everett, Danny phoned Chin with an update.
Everett returned to his apartment and after Chin and Kono arrived to relieve them, the detectives headed back to Headquarters so Steve could retrieve his car.
Danny looked at his partner's steely, stone-cold expression as his hands tightly gripped the steering wheel of the Camero.
"Are you alright?"
"No Danny...I'm not fucking alright!"
"Hey, hey partner...I am not the enemy here okay!"
"I'm sorry...damn it Danny, she's supposed to be in New York..."
"Well obviously, she's not Steve. What in the hell are you going to do?"
"I'm going to get answers" He pulled out his cell phone.
"Whoa buddy, can you please NOT do this while you're driving? Please?..." Steve pulled to the side of the road and Danny asked him, "Do you want me to step outside?"
"No...no you can stay" He dialed Shauna, who surprisingly answered on the third ring.
It was obvious what she had had too much to drink as her speech was slurred. "Steve? Hello sweetheart, it's awfully late for you to be calling but I'm so happy you did. I miss you baby"
Danny watched his partner's face as Steve's eyes closed in pain, "I miss you too, that's why I'm calling. What are you doing? It sounds like you've had a bit to drink?"
"I'm just out with some of the girls at a club on Madison Avenue. New York is such an amazing city Steve"
"I've never been there. Maybe we can plan to vacation there this summer, what do you say?"
"I would love that baby"
"I'll let you get back to the girls. You be careful now. You're not driving are you?"
"No, we're taking a cab. Oh Steve, I love you"
"I love you too Shauna"
"Goodnight honey, I'll call you tomorrow"
"Good Night"
Steve's hands were shaking as he hung up the phone. Without speaking a word he started the ignition and resumed the drive back to Headquarters.
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As he pulled next to his truck in the parking lot, both men exited the Camero.
"So what are you planning on doing Steve?"
"I'm going to go back to the club and wait for her"
"No...no, no, no Steven...please don't do this"
"I need answers Danny"
"Not tonight you don't and not like this!"
Steve placed his hands over his face as he leaned against the car.
"Come on partner, she's been drinking. What answers are you going to get? Honestly Steve, what else do you need to hear?"
"I don't know...but I need to see her"
Steve moved quickly to his truck as Danny continued to plead to him, "STEVEN, DON'T DO THIS...PLEASE"
Without saying another word Steve drove away as Danny jumped into his car to follow him cursing loudly.
Danny missed a stop light and as he waited for it to change to green he suddenly had a horrible feeling in his gut that Steve was going to act impulsively and do something stupid. Turning on his lights and siren he dashed through the light, picking up speed.
Steve arrived at the club taking note of Shauna's flashy red Corvette parked in a 'reserved' spot near the front door. He re-entered the club making his way back to the bar. The office door was still closed and the table they had occupied remained untouched. He ordered a beer, deciding to wait...
Danny arrived in the lot about ten minutes later, parking next to Steve's truck. He raced into the club hoping he wasn't too late.
Steve didn't have to wait long. He had only taken a couple of sips from his beer when Shauna and her escort exited the office making their way back to the table. Wasting no time, and his anger growing, Steve made his way towards the table.
He had taken several steps when Danny appeared in front of him. He grabbed the SEAL's arms and stopped his progress. "Steve, don't do this. Don't jeopardize your job over this partner, she's not worth it...SHE IS NOT worth it!"
"Let me go Danny. I need to do this"
"Shit McGarrett...please listen to me man!" Danny's voice was shaking out of anger and frustration as Steve pushed past him.
Danny was right on his heels and soon they were both standing in front of a shocked Shauna.
The owner looked up, "Who's this loser baby?"
Danny grabbed Steve's arm as he noticed his arms and shoulders tense.
"Hello Shauna"
"Steve...what are you doing here?"
The older man jumped in, "Is this McGarrett?"
"Yeah...who the fuck are you?"
"My name is Wayne Milliner and I am the owner of this fine establishment"
Shauna repeated her question, "Steve, what are you doing here?"
"I think that's the question I should be asking Shauna?"
Milliner's eyes met Steve's, "I think you can see the answer to that Commander and I think it would be wise if you left my establishment now please"
Danny grabbed Steve's arm, "Come on partner, let's go"
Milliner added, "I think you should listen to your little friend McGarrett"
Steve felt Danny's grip tighten on his arm and he knew that his partner was about to lose his cool as well.
Before the detectives could even make a move to leave, Milliner had motioned to a security guard and in seconds the men were surrounded by four, very large guards.
Danny spoke first, "Hey call them off Milliner, we don't want any trouble here"
"My men are just here to assure that. As I said, it's time for you both to leave"
Danny pulled Steve and they turned and left the club without incident.
They stopped at Danny's apartment raiding the beer from the refrigerator before both heading to Steve's.
They both stared at the television mindlessly and Steve slammed down three beers before he even spoke a word.
"Thank you Danny"
"For what?"
"For not letting me do something stupid. For stopping me...for caring"
"You're welcome and you're right, I do care. I'm sorry man"
"I loved her Danny"
"I know you you did. But you're too good for her"
"Yeah right..."
"Hey, I'm serious partner. You're a great person Steve and anyone who would treat you like this deserves whatever they get. You're better off without her and I'm glad you found out now instead of later"
"It still hurts though buddy"
"Then my friend, I think you need another beer or two"
Steve grinned, "More like six or seven..."
Danny stood to fetch the beers, "Now you're talking, I've got to use the head and I'll grab the next round. Be right back"
Steve grabbed his arm as he moved past him, "Thank you Danny"
"Anytime partner"
