DISCLAIMER: I own nothing to do with the show!
A/N: This is the fault of Mimi05! So, Happy Birthday Mimi! I hope you enjoy this story as it's written for you.
I have totally stolen the idea from a Criminal Minds episode, I have no shame!
Chapter 1
Danny Williams stood naked as the day he was born under a stream of water. That wouldn't be so unusual given that he showered twice a day, sometimes more depending on what horrors his partner, Steve McGarrett, could get them involved with. No, he wasn't at home or at the 5-0 HQ showering, nothing so mundane. Danny was standing in a decontamination tent outside a cabin on Maui being hosed down by two guys in Hazmat suits.
Danny was relieved that the sides were opaque so he couldn't be seen in all his naked glory by the personnel that were milling around waiting for him to be evacuated so that they could clear the scene.
-5-0-
The day had started just like any other. Danny walked into the 5-0 offices munching on a malasada and Steve was walking next to him lecturing the shorter man on the damage he was doing to his body.
"Babe, how many times do I have to tell you, there is nothing wrong with my body?!"
"I didn't say there was anything wrong with your body, I'm sure it's aesthetically pleasing…"
"Did you just use the word 'aesthetically' to describe my body?" Danny stopped in the middle of the main room, right by the computer table.
"Yes Danno, as I was saying, I'm sure it's aesthetically pleasing to members of the opposite sex, or even the same sex…"
"I'm not gay Steven!"
"I never said you were Daniel. A man who is comfortable with his own sexuality can admit when he thinks another man looks attractive, being gay has nothing to do with it," Steve rolled his eyes.
"So, you think I'm attractive!" Danny stated smugly.
"I didn't say that…"
"Are you not comfortable with your own sexuality Steve? I have to tell you, I'm very comfortable with mine and as such I can admit that you are an attractive member of the male of the species, with your tall, muscular build…"
"And you two wonder why everyone thinks you're married!" snorted Kono as she entered.
"Good morning Kono," greeted Danny, completely ignoring the married comment as he has been doing since he started partnering with the Navy SEAL. "Steve was just saying that he thinks my body is aesthetically pleasing…"
"I didn't actually say that, exactly!" protested Steve.
"I think he doth protest too much!" Danny grinned.
"Are they at it again?" asked Chin coming to join his cousin.
"Yeah, something about finding one another's bodies attractive," Kono nodded.
"Guys, is there anything you want to share with us?" asked Chin, winking at Kono.
"Huh?" asked Steve eloquently. Luckily he was saved from the turn the conversation was taking by his cell ringing, "McGarrett… yes Governor… are you sure? Where? We're on our way," he hung up and turned to his team.
"Steve? What is it?" Danny looked from Steve to the other team members. The Navy SEAL had paled somewhat during his conversation with the Governor.
"We need to get over to Queens Hospital and meet with a member of the CDC."
"What's going on?" asked Chin.
"They've had fifteen reported and confirmed cases of Anthrax."
"What?!" spluttered Danny.
"Danny and I will go over to the hospital and meet with the CDC representative. Chin, Kono I want you to check other hospitals on the Islands as well as the mainland and make sure there have been no other possible cases."
"You got it," Chin nodded as both he and Kono stepped forward to access the computer table to find the necessary information and make calls.
"Let's go Danny," Steve stated before striding out the door, his partner only a step behind him.
-5-0-
Steve and Danny entered the doors of Queens and approached the reception area, "Commander McGarrett, 5-0. I've been asked to meet with a Doctor Lee."
"I'll just page her," the receptionist told him, "Please take a seat," she indicated a row of chairs against the right hand wall.
Danny walked over and sat down. The ride over had been silent as both men had taken in the news of Anthrax being on the island. Both men had dealt with terrorist threats of various degrees during their years in service, but neither of them had actually had any dealings with Anthrax, though they had heard about other cases and knew it was bad… very bad. Steve didn't sit but paced in front of the row of chairs. Danny was about to tell him to sit down because he was making him feel dizzy, when a pretty Asian woman wearing a white lab coat with a stethoscope around her neck approached.
"Commander McGarrett?"
"Yes," Steve turned to greet her.
"I'm Doctor Hanna Lee, Chief of Special Pathogens at the CDC," she shook his hand.
"This is my partner, Detective Danny Williams," Steve said.
"Detective…"
"Please, call me Danny," he shook her hand, "So…"
"Why don't we take this conversation through to the office I'm using," she suggested. Both men nodded and followed her through the hospital.
Danny took the time to assess the woman. She was about his height with black hair pulled into a bun on the back of her head. She wore a tailored blouse and black pants. Her stride was confident, her manner professional. Doctor Lee was probably a force to be reckoned with in his opinion.
"Please take a seat," she indicated two chairs opposite a desk in a small office, "Can I get you a drink?"
"No, we're good thanks," Steve smiled politely as he took his seat; he just wanted to find out what the hell was going on.
"Doctor Lee…"
"Please, it's Hanna."
"Hanna, I don't mean to be rude, but what the hell…?" typically Danny was the one to voice Steve's thoughts.
"We received a call early this morning from a Doctor here at Queens. He reported that he had fifteen patients; all were suffering with black lesions, fever and coughing up blood. Tests that had been carried out showed that all were suffering from a form of Anthrax."
"Are these people from the same family or friends?"
"There are some family members and also a couple of groups of friends. They had all been to the Japanese Gardens on East West Road yesterday afternoon."
"Are you saying that someone released Anthrax in those gardens?"
"All the information we have points to that, yes. We have a team at the gardens now…"
"How are you managing to keep this quiet?"
"We've advised that there's a methane build up in the sewage system."
"Should we be keeping this quiet?" Danny wanted to know.
"Danny, we can't inform the public, there would be mass panic," Steve told his friend, knowing that the man was likely thinking of his daughter.
"The best option right now is to identify the strain and come up with an effective treatment plan."
"Whoa, what do you mean identify the strain?" asked Danny.
"The spores have been weaponised and the tests we've run show that it's been tampered with enough to mean the normal antibiotic we would prescribe to treat it are not effective."
"Not effective? You mean these people," Danny waved a hand in the general direction of the ward where the Anthrax cases were being dealt with, "Are going to die."
"There's a good chance, yes," replied Hanna sadly, "We need to focus on stopping any further attacks. These patients were infected approximately sixteen hours ago and already we're starting to see signs of organ failure. This strain is much faster acting than previous Anthrax cases that we've dealt with."
"I need some air," Danny nodded to Hanna and left, closing the door behind him.
"Sorry, he has a daughter on the island…"
"It's fine, I understand. This isn't exactly easy for anybody," Hanna sighed, "Here, your team need to take this as a precaution," she handed over a vial with eight tablets in, "its Cipro and is used as a countermeasure against exposure. It may not work on this strain, but it's better than nothing."
Steve took the lid off and shook out two tablets and tipped them onto her desk, "I don't need it, I've already been vaccinated because of my role with the Navy."
"Very well Commander…"
"Steve, please, call me Steve."
"Very well, Steve. I will join you at your offices and help you brief your team."
"Thanks Doctor Lee…"
"I think if I'm calling you Steve you can call me Hanna," she told him with a smile.
"Thanks Hanna," Steve returned the smile, "That's not really necessary, I'm sure you're needed here."
"Steve, there are plenty of doctors here; I can help you with your investigation. If I'm needed then the hospital will call me."
"Alright, you know where we're based?" she nodded in response, "Good, we'll see you there shortly." Steve left her office and went in search of his partner. He found him outside by the Camaro pacing back and forth looking at his phone.
"You know you can't tell Rachel, don't you?" he asked gently.
Danny huffed and ran a hand through his hair, "I know, it's just… Grace."
"I know man, I know, but we can't use the knowledge that we have to benefit ourselves, no matter how much we want to. The best thing we can do is find these assholes and stop them before they initiate another attack."
"Yeah," Danny's shoulders slumped. Steve was right, their families shouldn't have an advantage over those that weren't allowed to know, but it still hurt not to be able to protect his daughter.
-5-0-
Steve and Danny arrived back at 5-0 HQ and found both Chin and Kono with their phones attached to their ears. Once they saw the other two men returning they finished their calls and gathered around the computer table.
"No further cases reported at any hospitals on the mainland or anywhere on the islands."
"Well that's at least good news," Danny stated.
"Here, you each need to take these; Doctor Lee gave them to me," he handed out the pills, "Cipro to counteract Anthrax."
"Where's yours? And I thought this strain of Anthrax was resistant…"
"Navy, Danny. I've already been vaccinated. Doctor Lee isn't sure that the Cipro will work but it's all that they have, just take it," ordered Steve. The three nodded and each swallowed the pills without further discussion.
The door opened and Doctor Lee entered. She was quickly introduced to Chin and Kono, then she filled them in on the rest of what she knew.
"As I told Steve and Danny earlier, this spore has been weaponised. It's odourless and invisible. It's attacking the lungs. We lost the first patient just a few minutes ago which means it's capable of killing within eighteen hours of exposure."
"Well whoever did this they know their stuff. Anthrax isn't easy to weaponise," pointed out Steve.
"That should narrow down our suspects," Kono said.
"Not necessarily," Chin responded, "This person could be from anywhere and with the number of flights we have coming in and out…"
"It's unlikely that this person, or people, would be able to get the components they need onto the islands so they would need to get it here," Hanna advised, "You need to check whether anyone at the University or in the science community is currently using Anthrax for research."
The doors to the offices opened again and Steve looked up to be greeted by Lieutenant Catherine Rollins and six other Navy staff.
"Cath?"
"The Governor called…"
"You know about…"
"Yeah, what can we do to help?" she indicated the team she had with her.
"We were just discussing what needed to be done," Steve told her, beckoning her and the group with her forward to join them. Introductions were made and then they continued the discussion, "Cath can you and your team work on finding out the names of the scientists on Oahu that have the necessary skills to weaponise Anthrax, Hanna can you please help them. Chin, Kono, I want the two of you to look into our fifteen victims, find out if there are any connections between them. See if any of them could be potential targets. Danny, you and I will go to the Japanese Gardens and check it out."
-5-0-
Danny stood with Steve as a guy dressed in Hazmat gear approached, though they were gathered at his waist, "Can I help you?" he asked.
"Commander McGarret and Detective Williams of 5-0," Steve replied as he showed his badge.
"Doctor Lee called and said I should expect you, I'm John Faver."
"What have you found?" asked Danny.
"The highest concentration was found over on that hill…"
"Prevailing winds would have carried the spores down into the gardens," stated Steve.
"Are we, er, safe here?"
"Yes, Detective, we've neutralised the spores, it's perfectly safe."
"OK then," Danny wasn't convinced, but he was here to do a job, "Why do you think this place was chosen?"
"I don't know," Steve answered, "I mean it's not the busiest of places, if they wanted mass casualties they could have gone to Ala Moana Beach Park or somewhere else similar."
"Perhaps it's someone with something against the East West Center."
"Possible, let's find the Director and get a list of students and employees."
The two men thanked Faver and headed for the building that housed the administration department. Once there they requested the list. Thankfully a quick call from the Governor to the Director got them what they needed with the minimum of fuss. Danny and Steve sent the information to Chin and Kono before they headed off to pick up lunch for everyone at HQ.
-5-0-
Steve led the way back into the offices which had suddenly become smaller with the now dozen people working in there. Danny took the food and put it on a table before joining the others round the computer table.
"What have you found?"
"There are no connections between all the victims. I mean, some of them were friends because they attend the University of Hawai'i together but they're not connected in any other way. There were a couple of families that were walking through the gardens as well, but that's all. None of the victims were what we'd consider high profile targets. There were seven students; three kids; two stay at home Moms; an accountant from a small local firm and a couple who were on holiday from Switzerland, she's a teacher and he's a construction worker. None of them have any skeletons that would warrant any violence, let alone a biological weapon!" Chin informed them.
"There are only six scientists living on Oahu who have the skills to weaponise the spores. Four of them are working for the Navy and have airtight alibis given that they were all in the lab together with witnesses' yesterday afternoon."
"That doesn't mean they didn't weaponise it and hand it off to someone else," pointed out Danny, "We don't know that this is a one man, or woman, operation."
"That's true and we're currently running a check on all four of them. The other two are a married couple who are on honeymoon and have been for the last four weeks."
"Alright so now we need to check if anyone has come in from elsewhere that has these skills. We need to check airlines and ports passenger lists."
"That's going to be a long list," Kono sighed.
"I know but it has to be done."
"I have a question," Danny was standing with his hands resting on the computer table, a frown marring his features.
"OK," Steve looked at his partner quizzically; it was rare for Danny not to just ask about whatever was on his mind.
"Hanna, I'm not a science…" he paused searching for the right word.
"Geek," suggested Kono helpfully.
"I wasn't going to say that…"
"No but you were thinking it."
"She's right I'm not into science, like some people I could mention." He glanced at Steve who just shrugged, "So if I wanted to make Anthrax and weaponise it, how would I do that?"
"That, Detective, is classified," responded Steve.
"Figures. It's not like I want to make it Steven!" Danny rolled his eyes, "What I'm trying to get at is where would I get weaponised Anthrax."
"You wouldn't, well you could if you went on the black market and paid someone a lot of money, but then you wouldn't 'waste' it by using it on such a small portion of the population," Hanna responded.
"Hang on, you might if you wanted to test some that you'd bought on the black market," Steve said.
"Well this just keeps getting better and better," grumbled Danny, "Fine, I didn't buy it on the black market. Then how?"
"You would need Anthrax spores, which actually aren't that easy to come by. You can find anthrax spores in contaminated dirt and in grazing animals but you have to know how to cultivate them."
"OK, so I want to, for arguments sake, make some weaponised Anthrax. I have the knowledge, but not the spores. How do I get my hands on those spores?" Danny felt like he was pulling teeth.
"If it was for official purposes then you would go through the proper channels at your place of work; if it was for less than legal purposes then it's either buy on the black market or steal them, but if you have the knowledge to weaponise Anthrax then you'd probably know how to cultivate spores."
"What if I didn't have the time to cultivate spores?"
"Again, black market or theft," Hanna told him.
"OK, so has anyone checked to see if any of the legitimate keepers of Anthrax have had any go missing?" Danny raised an eyebrow.
"I can make some calls," Cath told him, "Though anyone who was using it for legitimate purposes would have reported any thefts."
"Sometimes good people do stupid things," said Danny in response as he watched Cath grab her phone and go to his office to make some calls.
Everyone else grabbed some of the food that Danny and Steve had got before returning to start going through the lists of passengers that Kono had already requested during their discussion and were already starting to come in.
Cath returned to the central area about thirty minutes later, "Well Danny, it looks like you were right about someone missing Anthrax spores."
"Why the hell didn't we know about that?" growled Steve.
"I spoke to someone at Pacific Health Research where the couple that are on honeymoon work. Apparently nobody had checked the lab since the pair had gone on vacation as they're the only ones that work in it. They just called me back. After doing an inventory they discovered that two vials of spores are missing."
"Shit!" Danny summed up the feelings of everyone in the room, "So, did this couple take the spores and then go on 'vacation' or did someone else take the vials?"
"No idea. Let's get a team to the lab to check for any forensics," instructed Steve. Kono nodded and picked up her cell to call Charlie Fong.
"Where were the couple going for their honeymoon?" asked Danny.
Chin quickly leafed through his notes, "A remote cabin at Haleakala National Park on Maui."
"What?!" exclaimed Danny, expecting some fancy resort somewhere.
"There are three cabins in the National Park and they're renting one. Its set 6380 feet up at the east end of the valley at the base of a rain forest cliff. You can only get to it by a nine mile hike up one of the trails."
"So when you say remote…"
"Yeah, I mean nobody is going to disturb them."
"Anyone else think that sounds like the perfect place to make weaponised Anthrax?" asked Danny.
"Simple enough to charter a private helicopter to fly you back and forth too," stated Kono, thinking about the fact that the attack had taken place on Oahu.
Cath was already on her phone organising transport for the 5-0 and Navy teams. Everyone went their separate ways to change into more appropriate clothing for a hike of that distance and they met back up in the 5-0 offices twenty minutes later all geared up and ready to go.
-5-0-
"They're going to drop us at the bottom of the trail," Cath informed them over the headsets once they were aboard one of the two helicopters and heading for Maui, "Then they'll land nearby to wait for us to radio for a pick up."
"Why can't they drop us closer to the cabin?" Danny asked.
"If Mr and Mrs Lawrence are making weaponised Anthrax we don't want to tip 'em off Danno. These birds don't run silent."
"Huh, good point," acknowledged Danny.
"Look, Danny, if you're not up to the hike…"
Chin palmed his face when he heard that. Steve should have known better than to challenge Danny's ability to complete the hike. Kono looked over at Chin wondering if he was thinking what she was, how the hell were they going to get away from the explosion that was Danny when they were in a helicopter.
"Excuse me?"
Steve looked like he might have realised what he said and how it would sound, unfortunately it was too late so he tried to lessen the blow. "I'm just worried about your knee…"
"My knee, Steven, is fine. I've hiked to the petroglyphs with you and then run up to the summit of the same damn mountain to call in help for your ass when you fell down a cliff and you're questioning my capability of hiking nine miles? Really?!"
"The trail is rougher than the one to the petroglyphs. I don't want to be responsible for your knee getting injured again!"
"You let me worry about my knee Super SEAL, just don't be blowing any shit up when we get there!" growled Danny, crossing his arms and turning away, effectively ending the conversation.
Steve looked over at Chin and Kono who just shook their heads at him. Even Cath looked a little surprised by what Steve had said.
Shortly after the helicopters dropped as low as they could and the groups were lowered down to the start of the trail as there was nowhere near enough for the helicopters to land that wouldn't add miles to the hike. They waited for the helicopters to disappear before they started out. Steve took the lead with Chin bringing up the rear. Danny happily settled in the middle of the group with Hanna and Kono.
"You really upset him Steve," Cath said as she walked alongside the SEAL.
"Damn it Cath I didn't mean it the way it sounded!" growled Steve.
"You questioned his ability to do his job."
"No I didn't!"
"Yes, Steve, you did. His job isn't just about doing the detective work, it's about apprehending the suspects and sometimes, especially in Hawaii, that means hiking! You didn't once question if Kono or Chin could make the hike," she pointed out.
"Neither of them has a dodgy knee…" he trailed off as he realised what he'd said. Kono had had a knee injury that ended her surfing career but he never questioned her ability, "Shit!"
"Get this done and then apologise to the man," instructed Cath.
"Yeah," Steve sighed, running a hand through his hair and glancing over his shoulder. The four Navy personnel they'd brought with them were directly behind him and he could just see Danny's mop of dirty blonde hair behind them.
When the path divided Steve called a halt and carried on down the right hand path that led to the cabin and went to have a quick scout around to make sure there was nothing unexpected heading their way. Once he was sure he returned to the group.
Cath's cell vibrated at her hip and she quickly answered. Listening she hung up and then cursed, "There's the possibility that they may have rented two cabins. There's another one if you stay on this trail."
"Why would they have done that?"
"One to make the Anthrax in, one to sleep in?" suggested Kono.
"Alright, well Chin and I can go check that out, you and Super SEAL can have this one," stated Danny.
"Take Lieutenant Rodriguez and Ensign Joseph with you," Cath told him.
"Alright," he agreed. He gathered up the three men and started to head off.
"Danno…"
"Yeah?"
"Be careful."
"That's my middle name, unlike you, yours is definitely 'blow shit up'!" Danny responded, "You be careful too Babe."
Steve nodded, relieved that Danny seemed to have forgiven him his mistake, at least for now.
Cath, Steve, Kono, Hanna and the two remaining Navy officers diverted down the right hand path until they came in sight of a simple wooden cabin.
"Should we be using Hazmat suits," queried Kono, whispering to Steve.
"I'm going to do a quick recon and see if I can get a look at anything through the windows," he whispered back before leaving the group waiting as he did just that. "No evidence of any white powder." He told them on his return, "Doesn't mean there isn't any in there though. How many suits did you bring?"
"Two," Cath told him. Rodriguez has one."
"Alright, I'll gear up and go in…"
"Steve…"
"I'm in charge here Cath."
"Yes Commander," she rolled her eyes at him but helped him suit up anyway. It was only a few minutes later that he re-emerged.
"It's clear. There isn't any Anthrax and the Lawrence's aren't here either," he informed the group as he stripped out of the Hazmat suit and handed it back to Cath.
"OK, Ensign Stein, stay here. The rest of us will head over to the other…" Cath was interrupted by the radio.
"Chin to Steve…"
"Go ahead Chin."
"I need Doctor Lee here and an immediate medevac."
"What the hell is going on?"
"Danny's been exposed."
"Oh God," Kono gasped from behind Steve.
"Is the helicopter carrying a decon tent?" Hanna asked, she received a nod in response, "Get them here and get it set up outside that cabin. I'm assuming there's a clearing like this one around it," Hanna instructed as she set off at a run towards the other cabin.
Cath was on the radio to the pilot as everyone except the Ensign she'd instructed to stay behind set off towards the other cabin as well.
It only took the group ten minutes to run flat out to the other cabin. When they got there Steve started demanding answers as Cath organised the drop from the incoming helicopter and setting up the decontamination tent.
-5-0-
A/N: I have researched Anthrax, but I'm probably going to get arrested from the searches I've done as it is, so some of it will be made up...! The Research place I mentioned does exist but I have no idea if they have Anthrax there, so no offence intended. There are also three cabins at the National Park on Maui, but if you look 'em up they don't have any electric or running water and you can only stay there for 3 consecutive nights... I used artistic licence to change it up! Next chapter up tomorrow. This isn't finished but currently I'm starting on Chapter 3!