Chapter 1 – Learn my lesson
And it's FINALLY up. After couple of months, planning, brainstorming ideas with my favorite people and writing.
Title courtesy of Praemonitus Praemunitus (thanks for the title, I suck at naming my stories lately).
I got the idea about this fic after I watched 5x16 for the second time in September. I don't like that particular ep, except few parts and I wished it was Steve next to Danny in the end instead of Melissa.
For those of you that don't know, I study law, so the legal part of what happened in the ep drew my attention. When Amber (Melissa) hit Frank it was self-defense. But when she ran him over it stopped being one. I went with it, since Danny was the only witness to what happened and that's how this fic was born.
Hope you won't hate me for turning Melissa into such a cruel woman, because I have nothing against her or the actress that plays her, but we didn't know a lot of things about her by this point of the series and she was probably messed up being abused by that son of a bitch. And it all came crashing down, even in Hawai'i, when she thought she managed to get away from her past. She took it out on Danny, and it is as it is.
The writer's mind is a place not many people can understand, so bear with me. I write Melissa as I see her.
Also, it wasn't said in the ep, but my thoughts are that Frank died, so I went with it. The story gave me a lot of struggle, moral dilemmas for Danny, and emotional whump. Big thanks to Praemonitus Praemunitus and Lunedd for their help on this fic and for putting up with me while I was shaping it, to what it is now.
And again, if this is not your cup of tea, move along.
Leave a review on your way out to let me what you think.
…
When Steve received the call from Tripler Medical Center, he never thought it was because of Danny. He thought it may be everything else but Danny.
They called him, because Steve was listed as Danny's next of kin. Steve willed himself not to lose balance as he heard the words. Danny got stabbed and was in surgery now.
Steve felt all eyes on him as he struggled to think, to make sense out of the words. Then it hit him. Amber's ex. He was the one who hurt Danny most likely. His nostrils flared as he tried to compose himself. No need to lose it in front of his colleagues. But, on the inside Steve felt like he was on fire. His mind repeated "Please Danny be okay" as a mantra over and over again.
What felt like ages, was in fact, just couple of minutes. Steve gathered his thoughts, put on what would Danny call it, his aneurysm face, and flew through the hotel room door.
He heard Lou calling after him, but he was oblivious to it. His number one priority right now was Daniel Williams.
Steve drove the Silverado like it was the last drive in his life. He stepped on the gas pedal, and if it wasn't for the Danny-shaped conscience, he would have ended up kissing couple of trees on his way to the hospital. There was a reason why they used the Camaro chasing suspects.
When he finally parked his truck in the hospital's parking lot, Steve practically leaped to Tripler's entrance. His heart felt like it would get out of his chest, blood rushing to his ears, the slight thump-thump sound threatening to deafen him. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat. Danny had to be okay, he just had to.
When he reached the waiting area, Steve saw Amber, shaken up and in tears. He hugged her and offered her comfort. Dr. Cornett choose that moment to grace them with his presence. Danny was okay and on his way to recovery. Steve breathed a sigh of relief he wasn't aware he was even holding.
Amber asked to be taken to Danny's room. Steve wanted so badly to be the first thing his partner saw when he woke up, but he refrained himself from that, instead letting Amber to go and see Danny. Steve was reeling, but his mind was clearing more and more, as he let himself relax knowing Danny was okay. He would deal with Amber and her ex later. He sent Duke a message to make Danny's case a priority.
Steve's phone buzzed just as Amber's form disappeared in the hallway. It was Kathy, who wanted to see him. She was on her way to the hospital. Steve sighed once again and slid in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs to wait for her.
After the talk with Kathy, Steve went to check on Danny, surprised Amber wasn't there. He asked the nurses where she was, and the answer was that she went home.
Steve used that moment to go and see Danny, who was fast asleep and softly snoring. He looked slightly pale, but otherwise he was okay. Steve knew that it was probably from the blood loss. And they got Danny on the good stuff, so his pain was at least bearable.
Steve settled in the chair on Danny's right side and clasped his partner's still hand in both of his.
He contemplated what he did, or didn't do, so to speak. He should have tried to find Danny the second Kamekona told him about the man that asked around for Amber. Steve knew deep inside there wasn't anything he could do, but that didn't prevent the powerful guilt trip that just started.
He sighed. Loudly. Luckily, he didn't wake up Danny.
...
Steve didn't realize he dozed off. He had his head rested on the edge of the bed, Danny's hand still in his. That same hand was the reason why he woke up in the first place, Steve felt it twitch. He raised his head finding two half-open blues peering at him.
"Hey there Sleepy Head." Danny teased with what looked like a tired smile.
"I don't know who the sleepy one here is, Danno."
Danny chuckled at Steve's reply, but stopped abruptly when the slight movement sent spikes of pain in his abdomen. Noticing the look on Steve's face Danny spoke. "Hey, I'm okay. Don't you worry that pretty face of yours, we don't want worry wrinkles on it."
"Seriously what's that with you and my face?"
Steve was only halfheartedly teasing Danny, inside feeling relief that Danny was at least alive and breathing. He knew first hand that stab wounds were a bitch and that Danny would be in a lots of pain, not to mention that every move of his body should be controlled until he healed fully. Steve sighed and didn't say anything to Danny's words. Any other day he'd enjoy riling up Danny, but not today.
"I'm sorry."
"What for?"
"Not being there for you."
Danny furrowed a brow when he saw how furious Steve looked. But as it turned out it wasn't directed at him.
"Amber's husband... Ex-husband was asking around Kamekona's this morning. Kamekona called me, he said the guy looked fishy and to tell me that he took a picture of him and his license plate." Steve stopped watching intently to see if Danny was mad at him already or getting there.
What he got in response was blank stare and a nod to go on.
"So, we were working this arson case with an agent from California, Kathy Millwood... And I asked Chin to run the plates. He got a hit. Frank Simpson. That was his name."
There was nothing to tell Steve at how Danny felt when he mentioned the name of Amber's ex.
"When Chin searched for who Frank was connected to or why he would be interested in you or Amber, he came across some information. That Amber's name was fake and that her real name was Melissa Simpson, neé Armstrong. After that he tried to call you both, but you wouldn't answer."
"We left our phones at home before we took off. I wanted a little uninterrupted vacation..." Danny's weak voice filled in the blanks. "I... um, I wanted an escapade of sorts, you know. The last few months were heavy on me, and I know I should have told you that I was going with Amber in my friend's house."
"Anyway, I told Chin to put out a BOLO on Frank as soon as I heard of the nature of his crimes. I was afraid he'll go after you." He didn't add, only if I had a location where... "He was asking around her workplace, too. Duke sent some of his officers down there to talk with her colleagues. One of the coworkers mentioned to HPD their boss may know where you two went. Duke tried to track the boss down and ask him about it, when I got the call."
Danny was shaking his head by the time Steve finished.
That's it, Steve thought, I messed up.
Danny looked at him and a wry grin covered his face.
"You big goof."
"I big what?"
"I know what you are thinking."
"Oh, you do?"
"Mhm. You are blaming yourself for something that was out of your control anyway."
Steve was baffled. He expected a rant, angry and disappointed Danny, but this? He couldn't believe what his ears were hearing. Danny was actually okay with everything he just said? He had to make Danny look at the facts here, that he wasn't able to back him up or save him in time. But, he only managed to look at Danny without saying a thing.
"Why are you looking at me like that? It's the truth Steven!" Danny didn't mean to yell, but it came out louder than he thought. "In no way whatsoever I would blame you for what happened to me. I blame Frank, or whatever his name is. It's his fault not yours, and you stop beating yourself because of it. Am I making myself clear?"
But, Steve still had that look on his face. He was one tough stubborn son of a bitch that had a knack to blame himself for everything, much like Danny. Maybe that was the reason why they got along so well.
Okay, different approach then, Danny said to himself.
"It wasn't your fault, Steve."
"Yes, it was Danny."
"No! Don't do that! Don't blame yourself. You had no idea where I was. This was supposed to be a getaway. Plus I left my phone here. I didn't tell you where I was going with Amber, so how could you know that lunatic will come after us?"
"I should have-"
"What Steven?! Adopt some psychic senses from Alison Dubois and see the things before they actually happen and know the place where they are going to happen?"
Silence greeted Danny.
"That's what I thought. If it is anyone's fault, then it's mine. I didn't take my phone with me, which is a little bit stupid, but blame me for being old fashioned. I didn't have any other means for a contact, and I didn't give you an exact location, so it's not a nuclear science to understand there was no way this could have been prevented. It could have happened here in town too, as a matter of fact."
Steve contemplated what Danny just said and concluded he was right. It could have happened anywhere, because Amber's ex, scratch that, Melissa's ex was a lunatic, as Danny put it, that would have gone with what he originally planned no matter what. He could have attacked Danny or Amber at any time, so it wasn't really his fault.
"Okay."
"Okay, what?"
"Okay, you are right, Danny."
Danny grinned and Steve couldn't help but smile.
"Next time I will take my phone with me. No matter if it's a getaway from you, you crazy animal. And I will tell you the location of where I'm going so you feel free to crash the party any time, even if you are not invited, to get me back."
"You've got yourself a deal, Danny."
"Good. Can I get a hug now?"
Steve laughed at how desperate was Danny to get a hug from him after all that happened, and leaned over the bed, mindful of Danny's wound and wrapped his arms around Danny's neck. Danny tried not to move a lot as to not aggravate his wound and pull on the stitches and leaned into Steve's warm touch and let himself relax in the hug, as much as he could with the pain constantly coursing through his body. He wrapped his arms around Steve and drew him closer. Tears pricked at his eyes. He sighed.
"I love you, Danno." Came Steve's muffled voice from where he had his head buried in Danny's shoulder, adding a silent sorry in his thoughts.
"Love you too, Steve." Danny replied, feeling relief at hearing those words. Don't be sorry, you jerk.
"Don't ever scare me like this anymore, okay?"
"I can't promise you that, babe. But I'll try."
Steve pulled out of the hug and wiped few stray tears. He smiled at Danny who returned the smile.
Danny tried, but couldn't stifle the yawn that pulled a chuckle out of Steve.
"Hey, why don't you sleep and rest a little, Danno? I'll be here when you wake up."
Danny nodded at that. Steve adjusted the pillows around him to get him more comfortable and as sleep pulled at him, Danny felt a gentle peck on his temple, and this simple sign of affection enough to send the message that Steve meant what he said.
...
-The next morning-
Danny was sleeping when Steve's phone rang. It was Duke. He had to get out and take the call before the sound woke Danny up.
"Hey, Duke, what do you got?"
"First of all, we've got a dead body."
Steve froze at the statement.
"How? Who?"
"Frank Simpson. There wasn't any visible injury as to what could have caused his death. I sent the body over to the morgue..."
"What is it Duke?"
"Max examined the body and he found something... Rather disturbing."
"You got me all lost, Duke."
"I told him to send you the report on his findings after Simpson's autopsy."
"Okay."
"I'm sending you the report of the CSU as we speak."
"Thanks, Duke."
Steve raked his hand through his unruly hair. He didn't sleep well in that neck-cricking chair that was too little to bear his 6 foot and counting frame. But, Steve promised to himself that he won't leave Danny ever again after what happened. He promised to Danny he'll be there when he woke up. And Steve McGarrett took his promises seriously.
They didn't have many moments to talk about what happened as Steve was feeling guilty for what happened to Danny and Danny tried to reassure him they were okay. The rest was just Danny sleeping and recuperating.
Because a fucking abuser of women stabbed him.
Steve was so pissed at Frank Simpson that he would gladly take him back from the land of the dead and kill him again. Over and over.
Picking up the laptop he took with him last night, in an effort to write the report on the case with that crazy asshole Duclair- scratch that, the arsonist Duclair, because Steve couldn't write that up in a report anyway, he opened his e-mails, bringing up Max's and Duke's first.
Steve opened Max's e-mail first. He skimmed through the autopsy report until he got to the part of Frank Simpson's COD. Internal injuries.
Was Frank Simpson beaten to death?
Danny was in no shape to beat him up after he was stabbed. He was losing blood, so he was weakened.
But still, could he do it?
Was it Amber?
Oh, God what happened in that house?
What caught Steve's attention were Max's meticulously written notes as to what he thought was the actual method that was used in Frank's murder. Steve also noticed that it was written murder.
"The victim sustained internal injuries that are highly likely consistent to what would appear as an automobile accident. To be more specific, he was first hit with the car, and then ran over."
There were pictures and scans that had highlighted areas on them.
"So, I think that the injuries in the first set of pictures coupled with the scans to prove it are consistent with the hit, after what would be the victim's fall to the ground. He would have stayed down, most probably, he was ran over not long after the hit. There are traces on the victim's clothes and marks on his legs and lower torso to indicate indentations of tire tracks. I took pictures and sent them over to CSU for analysis."
With that Max's report was finished and Steve was left staring at the screen, mouth gape and wheels turning in his head. Hit and then run over by a car. The only car that was there present at the scene was Danny's Camaro and it was currently parked outside...
What did you do Danny?
No, Danny couldn't have done that. Steve clearly remembered that Amber told him she drove Danny to the hospital. So Amber was... She did... But Danny was with her. And he most probably witnessed what happened.
Oh God.
Steve was afraid to open the CSU report now. Because of what he'll find inside. Because if it said what he thought it would say, that would mean Danny will have a lot to explain.
Steve clicked on the attachment and skipped the stats and chemical analysis of the traces found on Frank's clothes and DNA analysis, to find his suspicions confirmed.
Tire tracks that were consistent with the type of tires that a Camaro SS 1LE model would have.
Like Danny's Camaro had.
...