The Situation
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Author's Note: This story should probably be considered AU. It's been a really long time since I've posted a story, I look forward to hearing what you think of this one. Please enjoy.
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Eight o'clock in the morning on Monday found Detective Danny Williams entering the Five 0 headquarters. A fresh cup of coffee in one hand and the keys to unlock the office in another. The team was stepped down for four days, due to a case that ran for over forty-eight hours straight. But, Danny, having spent two of those days with his daughter, had felt so good after dropping her off at school, he had decided to come to work.
"Hey, George," Danny smiled at the janitor.
"Good morning, Detective Williams." George raised a hand in greeting. "I didn't realize you would be in today. My supervisor left a note to wax and shampoo the floors since no one would be here. I can come back."
"Oh, don't mind me." Danny said, "I'll be in my office, but when you get to it, I'll just take a lunch or something."
"You sure you should even be here?" George looked Danny over, noticing the black eye and slight limp. "Chin Ho made it sound like your last case really took it out of you."
"I'm sure, buddy. I'm just here to catch up on paper work." Danny smiled one more time at George and headed to his office.
Once inside, Danny powered up his computer and sifted through his email. He got started on responding to colleague's inquiries and declined an offer to speak at a team building conference in Los Angeles, sighting a lack of time. Even though he had been reluctant to join up with Steve when they had first met, he was now thankful for the opportunity. He had the prestige of being on an elite task force and was proud of what the team did everyday. He was keeping the islands safe for his little girl. The little girl that thought he could do anything. He smiled to himself. Danny then headed to the fax machine, expecting to throw out a bunch of junk solicitor offers. He noted that George was in the main area of the office, waxing the tiled floor. He did throw out an advertisement for discounted ink toner and another paper that said something about discount cruise trips. His eyes came upon an official looking document.
"Crap," Danny sighed. It seemed an important part of evidence was still at the offices and for some reason had not been logged in. If he wanted this particular kidnapper to get away, which he did not, he would need to run it down to HPD.
Danny headed to the Five 0 evidence locker and sure enough, one clear plastic bag had slipped half way under the bottom shelf. Danny bent to pick it up, it was the duct tape that the victim had been bound at the wrists with. It was covered with the kidnappers DNA and fingerprints.
Standing upright, Danny took the evidence bag and headed out of the locker, locking the door behind him. Danny passed George on the way out. Who silenced the waxing machine and turned to the Detective.
"Heading out, already?" George asked.
"Yeah, I uh," Danny raised the bag. "Gotta turn this in to put the finishing touches on this jerk, kidnapper's case."
"Kidnapper, huh?" George inquired.
"Yeah, it was on the news."
"Oh, the guy kidnapping teenage boys?" George genuinely smiled, remembering that he did know all about it. "I'm gad you caught him, Detective. I got two boys myself. My wife was awful worried. Kept the boys in the house most of this last week."
"Well, they are safe now."
"Thanks to you," George smiled.
"Not just me." Danny said.
"Well, you better go get that evidence turned in, then. Don't want such a monster getting off on a lack of proof he did it," George indicated that Danny should head on out.
"No, we don't," Danny smiled as he palmed the keys. "I probably won't come back today. We're all supposed to be relaxing, anyway. I'll let you work without me underfoot."
"And don't you worry, Detective. I won't tell the Commander or Chin that you were here." George's comment was probably meant to comfort Danny, but, tI did the opposite. Danny had got a little roughed up by the suspect before Steve had reached them. The suspect, Billy Dane, liked to grab teenage boys around fifteen to seventeen years old. He was a foot taller than Danny and had at east fifty pounds on him. Danny had found Dane first, about to harm his latest catch. The boy laid on the filthy floor, duct taped to an exposed pipe that ran through the basement, clearly terrified.
Danny physically shook himself to try and rid himself of the image in his head. Billy Dane and Danny had fought, they traded blow for blow, Danny never backing down, hence the black eye and twisted knee. Stupid ACL.
"Stupid McGarrett," Danny breathed as he walked away from George and out of the building. Danny knew that in part, his injuries, mostly the knee, were Steve's reason for the down time that the team was receiving. The detective knew that he could have made the situation better for himself if he had not fought his partner so hard on going to the hospital, he grimaced as the conversation came back to him.
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Three days earlier.
"Fine." Steve huffed, "You don't have to go in the ambulance, I'll drive you."
Danny sat on the end of the ambulance, ice pack on his bad knee and a glare on his face. "I'm not going to the hospital at all, Steve. It's not bad."
Steve shared a quick look with the EMT who shook his head then spoke, "I'd feel a lot better after some Xrays. That knee is swollen and if you have a history of injury to it, then it needs to be checked."
"Get in the ambulance," Steve said, firmly.
"I know my body and I'm telling you both," Danny said looking up as Chin and Kono approached the trio. "It's nothing that some ice won't fix."
Steve's glare was unyielding. "You don't want to risk further damage to that knee. Neither do I."
"Steve, you are completely over reacting and I am going back to the palace to complete my report." Danny tossed the ice pack to the EMT and headed to his Camaro, desperately trying to hide the limp and failing miserably.
"Okay, okay." Steve ran up behind him, followed discreetly by Chin Ho and Kono. "If it's better tomorrow, then you don't have to go to the hospital. If you're still limping and it's still swollen, then I don't care what you think, you're getting it checked out."
"It won't still hurt tomorrow," Danny stopped walking and turned to regard Steve with a smile.
Steve huffed. "It better not, I just got you broken in."
Danny and Steve had headed back to the Palace and Chin and Kono had remained to process the crime scene and the suspect. Danny was well aware of the concerned glances that Steve repeatedly shot his way from his own office. Danny had his leg elevated on his trash can, with a fresh bag of ice on his knee and a cold pack pressed to his rapidly swelling eye. He had angrily kicked Steve out an hour earlier, believing fully that if he didn't piss of Steve and soon, he would be dragged to the ER for those Xrays. He had verbally thrown Steve out of his office, using words that Danny knew would work. But, it looked like Steve might be coming back for more. Danny watched as Steve, having already pushed back from his desk, stood and headed out of his own office.
"Crap," Danny exhaled and lowered the ice pack from his face. He watched as Steve moved toward him.
"I'm not-" Danny started.
"I was just going to offer to duct tape that ice pack to your face for you," Steve said.
"What?"
"That way you can have both hands to type with and you can get your report done so I can take you for those Xrays." Steve smiled.
"No thanks. We had a deal, you reneging?" Danny asked.
"Not as long as you come home with me tonight," Steve replied.
"You wish," Danny muttered. "You are so not my type, babe."
"I'm being serious," Steve raised his voice.
"I'm not doing this with you, we had a deal. I am going home as soon as I complete my report. Which is what I suggest you do." Danny turned his eyes back to the computer, indicating he was done talking.
"I could just force you," Steve smiled.
"You and who's army?" Danny growled.
"Like I'd need help," Steve challenged.
At that moment, Kono and Chin entered the office.
"Looks like I'd have that help," Steve smirked.
"What the hell, McGarrett? What is your issue? I am fine or at least I will be. I mean..." Danny raged. "You gave me until tomorrow, you breaking your word?" Danny challenged, clearly angry.
"No. Fine. Forget it." Steve yelled, "you want to do permanent damage, go right ahead. What do I care?" Danny watched as Steve stormed out of the Palace.
Danny was silent, averting his eyes. He had pushed Steve too hard.
To be continued.