Take Two: Chapter One

A/n: In this story, 5-0 comes across a case that is disturbingly similar to the events surrounding the death of Mattie Williams.

My first 5-0 fic. I've watched every episode, and think the storyline of Mattie's death has been wholly underdeveloped in season six. Here's my attempt to do it justice.

Slight Danny/Rachel. I'm not even bothering with Melissa, because she doesn't interest me. No slash. McDanno bromance.

I've taken liberties with the Williams family as well.

Please enjoy and review! :)

It all happened as an attempt distract Kono. Chin had no idea the case would actually last, and he certainly had no idea of the true meaning behind the case. All he wanted to do was help his cousin think of anything other than her husband in prison.

He received a call in the middle of the night. Chin had spent the day with Danny, in hot pursuit of a kid caught up in a drug trafficking ring. After nearly a mile chase through the forest, Chin finally tackled the kid. Danny took him in for questioning. Needless to say, Chin was exhausted. The call was unwelcome.

"Lieutenant Kelly." Chin sat up. He did not recognize the number calling him, but the area code was Hawaiian.

"Chin?"

"Speaking." Chin rubbed the back of his neck. "Who is this?"

"Uh, hi, this is Joel Novak. Do you remember me? We went to high school together. I was a freshman when you were a senior. You may not remember me."

"I'm sorry, I don't seem to. It's been a while." Chin admitted.

"I figured. We played football together. I wasn't any good, but I was on the team."

"Okay, yeah. Great. What can I do for you?"

"I need to know if you can do me a favor, off the record. I know you're with 5-0."

"What do you mean?" Chin got out of bed. He began to walk towards his living room, where Kono was sleeping on the couch. He knew she would be there. She hadn't said anything, but he heard her car pull into his driveway a few hours ago. She didn't like to be alone. With Adam in prison, she was completely alone in their home. She had been making these appearances on Chin's couch for the past few nights. Neither said a word about it. She was usually gone by the time Chin got up.

"Can you do that for me? The police can't be involved."

"Why don't you tell me what's wrong, first, okay, Joel? I'll decide if the police need to be involved." Chin sat down on the couch and lightly shook his cousin awake. Kono stirred, sheepish. She hadn't really been sleeping. She couldn't sleep. Kono was about to apologize when Chin put a finger to his lips. He gestured towards the phone in his hand, which he put on speaker.

"Chin, I need to know." The voice on the other end sounded panicked. "He told me he would kill him if the police got involved."

"Who said that?"

"Someone kidnapped my brother." Joel said quickly. "Please. I shouldn't even be speaking to you. Can I trust you?"

Chin wanted to say no. If someone had been kidnapped, he wanted the best possible help the police could provide. When Chin looked at Kono, however, her eyes were wide. He could see she was intrigued. She nodded at Chin. Chin had not seen Kono look so intrigued since long before Adam turned himself in. Despite Chin's gut, Chin nodded back.

"Yes, you can trust me." He said. "Why don't we meet somewhere and discuss this further?"

"Can you meet me now?"

Kono nodded again. Are you sure? Chin mouthed. She nodded again. We can help, she mouthed back.

Chin sighed. "Give me an address."

Steve entered police headquarters early the next morning. He always arrived at the same time, before anyone else. The only time Steve wasn't the first person in the office was when Danny was trying to prove a point in his own stubborn way. Steve was looking forward to his alone time in the office, before his coworkers arrived. Despite this, however, when Steve walked onto the 5-0 Taskforce floor, Chin and Kono were already at work. There was a man Steve had never seen before in Chin's office. Kono was typing notes on her tablet as the man spoke.

Chin noticed Steve first. Steve was headed straight towards Chin's office.

"Kono." Chin nodded at his cousin. She turned around and noticed Steve. Quickly, she stood and left thee office, stopping Steve before he could enter.

"Good morning, boss." Kono nodded at Steve.

"Kono." Steve looked at her. "Kono, what's going on?"

"Just getting some work done." Kono said brightly.

"Uh-huh." Steve nodded. "Kono, we closed our case yesterday."

"Right. This is a new case."

"Oh? Do you have a file?"

"Well, no. This isn't exactly 'business as usual.'" Kono said.

"I gathered. What's going on, Kono?"

"Chin received a call last night from a man named Joel Novak. That's him, there. Do you know him? He went to high school with Chin."

Steve shook his head. "I don't know the name."

"Really? He said he played football."

Steve shook his head again. He watched as the doors to headquarters opened once more. Lou and Abby, the new detective from San Francisco, walked in. Lou immediately went to make himself a cup of coffee. Abby joined him after setting her keys down on her desk.

"His younger brother was kidnapped. The kidnapper told Joel not to involve the police."

"So he's involving 5-0." Steve didn't quite understand.

"Well, he's involving Chin. This case is off-the-record."

Steve still seemed unsure. "His younger brother was kidnapped?" He glanced at Kono. He saw a look in her eyes that he had not seem in some time. She was excited. Steve softened. "What do we need to do?"

Kono nodded. "Chin and I are speaking with him now." She almost smiled, but held herself back. She didn't know why she was so happy someone's brother was kidnapped. She was just happy for the distraction, she guessed. With her husband in jail, all she had was work. A case like this could take all of her time.

Danny entered headquarters last. He was speaking on the phone with his daughter. "I'll come get you after school, all right? Then your mom is bringing over Charlie later in the evening. Uh-huh. No, it'll be great." He was saying. "It'll be fantastic. Yes, honey, I know. Okay." Danny waved a greeting at Steve, but Steve didn't wave back. Instead, he gestured for Danny to come over.

"Have a good day at school, all right? Love you." Danny ended the conversation with his daughter, and put his phone back in his pocket. "What's up?" he looked at his partner.

"There's a man in Chin's office," Kono cut in. "His younger brother was kidnapped last night. He's being held for ransom."

Steve's eyes flicked to Danny. In all of Kono's excitement, he hadn't made the connection. Danny's little brother, Mattie, had also been held for ransom, and then brutally murdered. It had only been a few months since Danny returned from burying his brother in New Jersey. He was only slowly starting to pretend he was his old self again. He seemed to fool everyone but Steve.

Danny didn't notice Steve's gaze on him, however. His eyes remained fixed on Kono as she explained the situation. He was listening intently. Perhaps he had not made the connection yet.

Chin and Joel Novak exited Chin's office. "Here's the team, Mr. Novak."

"We already working?" Lou grumbled. He sipped the last of his coffee and joined the others outside of Chin's office.

"Thank you for taking on my case." Joel said. "I realize the circumstances are not ideal."

"What happened, Mr. Novak?" Steve asked.

"It's my younger brother, Michael. He's been kidnapped."

"How old is your brother, Mr. Novak?" Kono asked.

"He's not much younger than I am. He's an accountant, here in Honolulu. I think…I think he's gotten mixed up in the wrong crowd."

"What do you mean?"

"Uh, where to start" Joel sighed. "A few months ago I noticed he was receiving some extensive raises. And that's not to say he isn't good at his job. He is. But the money he was spending was not anywhere near practical for his salary. I'm worried he may have gotten caught up in drugs, or the mafia, or something. I don't know."

Steve looked at Danny again. Danny was still expressionless. Had he not made the connection yet? The similarities were piling up. Steve was growing concerned.

"Mr. Novak has given us enough information that we can start looking into some locations." Chin explained. "Namely, Michael's place."

"I don't live here." Joel said. "I'm at a hotel. I live in Trenton most of the year."

At this, Danny's ears perked up. "Trenton?"

"Yeah, you know it?"

"Know it?" Danny said. "I'm from Jersey, too. Detective Danny Williams."

Joel nodded and shook Danny's hand. "Nice to meet you, detective. I moved to Trenton when I got married. My wife's family is from Trenton. I haven't had a chance to see my brother in years. We live so far away, you know. I just…I hope it's not too late."

This finally seemed to get to Danny. He looked down, his polite smile fading. As if to check Steve was hearing the same thing Danny was, Danny looked at his partner. Steve was staring back at him, his shoulders tensed. Danny looked away.

"Steve?"

"Huh?" Steve glanced at Chin. "Sorry, what?"

"What should our plan of attack be?" Chin asked again.

"Right." Steve cleared his throat. "Chin and Kono, go with Joel back to the hotel. Make sure no one tries to kidnap him as well. Abby, Lou, go to Michael Novak's place of business, okay? I want an objective profile on this guy. Look into any pay raises he may have received. Danny and I will go to Michael's home. Mr. Novak, was Michael married?"

"No." Joel shook his head. "He never married."

Just like Mattie.

The team split up. Danny and Steve stayed where they were, watching the commotion. Danny had his hands in his pockets. Eventually, he tossed his car keys to Steve, who caught them easily.

"What are you thinking?" Steve asked, as the two left the office.

"About what?" Danny asked. "I'm thinking we should get to Michael's house and look for clues. You know, detective stuff."

"You know what I mean."

Danny paused, but recovered quickly. "There's nothing to worry about, babe. This is coincidence, is all. C'mon, Mattie was a stockbroker. This guy is an accountant. I mean…c'mon, it's different. Don't worry about it, huh? Let's go."

Steve followed Danny out the door, unsure.