My own tag (kind of) to Loa Aloha - because I wanted something more to happen at the end! Also my first foray into this fandom – hope I do it justice.
Big angst fan and always seem to like to make my favourite people angst over something.
I do not own anything associated with H5-0 – and I apologise in advance if any of this is out of character. Also for the purpose of this story I am assuming that Danny is slightly younger than Steve.
Detective Danny Williams eyes snapped open and found himself bolt upright in his bed – sweat dripping from his overheated body. He took a couple of deep, steadying breaths, willing his galloping heart to slow down. 'What the hell?' he thought.
The golden, morning sun broke through a gap in the battered looking curtains, causing a shaft of bright piercing light to fall right over his eyes.
'Another damn day in paradise,' he grumbled to himself.
He dragged himself out of bed, not relishing the idea of having to face the rest of the team after letting his brother take off in a private plane – running from the FBI and anyone else who was after him due to his money laundering.
He stepped from the shower to the shrill ringing of his cell phone. He glanced at the caller – ID, "Hey, what's up?"
"You ok? I've been calling for the last ten minutes!" The voice of his partner, Steve McGarrett echoed down the line.
"I've been in the shower. Is that ok? Or do I need to fill a form? He griped.
"Someone got out of the wrong side of the bed today…huh?"
Danny could almost see the smirk on Steve's face, "Yeah, well, you're lucky I got out at all!"
"I can tell! Can't wait for you to grace us with your presence…which will have to be soon…we got a new case."
"Anything you can tell me?" Danny asked, always intrigued by new cases.
"Not much to tell yet – hope to have more details by the time you get here," Steve explained.
"Ok, I'll be there in 30 minutes." Danny promised as he finished the call.
Thirty minutes later, as promised, Danny arrived at 5-0 headquarters. As he opened the door the other three quarters of the team glanced round, "Hey," he managed.
They carried on looking at him. It was beginning to get on his nerves, "What?" He questioned impatiently.
"Did you get any sleep last night?" Steve asked, his forehead creasing with concern.
"Yeah…some…"
"What's wrong Danny?" Chin asked his friend.
"Why would anything be wrong?" Danny counted, arms opening wide on the word, 'wrong'.
"Well for one thing brah – no tie…" Chin started.
Danny looked down at himself, totally unaware that he hadn't put on his trademark tie. He sighed deeply as he made his was over to the 'computer table' as he had named their state of the art equipment, "Can't a guy change his mind…" he muttered.
"Yes…but not you!" Steve countered.
Danny looked tiredly at his partner, "Hey Steve…about last night…I just wanted to say…well thanks…you know…" he said quietly, without meeting McGarratt's eyes this time.
"No problem buddy, what happened?" Steve asked, curiously.
"I lost him…he got the drop on me…" Danny let the sentence diminish. Steve didn't question it.
Danny visibly shook himself, "So what's this case?"
Kono was already pulling up data onto the screen, "Last night a number of local people rang HPD to report a 'bright light in the sky' over the ocean. Coastguard went out today and found thousands of dollars floating in the sea! They also found some wreckage, that they believe was a small, private plane that had taken off from that small airstrip on the eastern side of the island…"
Chin and Steve listened intently to Kono's monologue – Danny, however, had stopped being an attentive listener soon after Kono mentioned the plane. Suddenly an uneasy feeling drifted over him.
"Danny…you with us?" Steve's voice broke through the haze that was forming. He caught Steve's concerned look, but could only nod.
"Were any bodies recovered?" McGarratt asked, once he was sure his partner was back with them.
"Three bodies were retrieved – two pilots and one civilian…"
Kono was interrupted by the ringing on Danny's cell phone, "Hello…yes this he…" By this time Danny had turned away from his friends – but his body language was unmistakable. Steve noticed the way the younger man's shoulders tensed and when he ran a hand through his slicked back hair, he saw his partner's hand shaking.
Danny disconnected the call, and slowly put the phone back in his pocket. He leaned back against the table as he felt his legs go weak. Nausea rose, threatening to burst. Then he leaned forward, trying to drag some oxygen into his lungs, "Danny?" He heard a voice. He started slightly. He hadn't realised that Kono had stopped speaking and that all eyes were on him. He turned to face them, his mouth feeling as dry as sandpaper, "That was the M.E's office – one of the bodies they found had…had Matt's ID. I'm listed as his…" He closed his eyes as the reality of what he was saying rolled over him, "They want me to ID…"
He couldn't trust himself to carry on. He was so grateful, for once, when Steve took charge, "Ok, Chin, you and Kono go to the airstrip – get a flight manifest for any flights out of there yesterday…" Steve watched his beleaguered team mate walk on unsteady legs to his office. Chin and Kono watched this also – concern and sympathy evident on their faces. Steve understood exactly how they were feeling, "Look guys, just see what you can find out ok? I'll go with Danny – if he wants me too!"
His two friends nodded. Chin squeezed his shoulder as he passed, "You need anything…"
"Thanks."
Kono smiled shyly at him and he could see the tears in her eyes.
After Chin and Kono had left, Steve took a deep breath to try to prepare himself for what might be needed of him that day. Although he considered Danny a very close friend, he had absolutely no idea how a situation like this would affect him.
He walked into his partner's office, to see the smaller man slumped on the couch, his hands supporting his head. Gently, he sat down next to him, allowing his shoulder to rest against Danny's. A small shred of support – calm before the storm perhaps?
"You ready to go?" He asked, knowing how stupid that question must sound.
In answer, Danny stood on still shaking legs, not able to make eye contact with the older man, "Steve…would you…"he stuttered, pointing to the door.
"You know I will Danny…anything!" He answered putting a supportive hand on his shoulder.
They reached the Camaro in record time, or so it felt to the worried detective. He pulled the keys out of his pocket, but his shaking hands couldn't hold them and they clattered to the floor, "I've got them…"
Danny nodded his thanks as he slid into the passenger seat.
They drove in silence, Steve casting worried glances at his partner. He had never known him so quiet. Trouble was, he didn't know what to say either – this was way out of his comfort zone.
"I should've shot him!" Broke the silence.
"Excuse me?" Steve questioned.
"I got to Matt in time last night…" Danny started.
"I figured you would."
"He was about to get on a plane. I asked him to turn himself in. I told him that I would help him, make everything ok – coz that's what big brothers do – you know that!"
Steve nodded in agreement, thinking back to when Mary had been kidnapped.
"But he refused…stubborn kid! He said he had to go! I told him I'd have to shoot him. He dared me to do it. But I couldn't! I couldn't shoot my baby brother – but damn it, I wish I had now…" His voice cracked, "At least he'd be here so I could tear him a new one!" He slumped further down in his seat and stared out of the window. Steve could see the muscle in his jaw tensing and untensing. He wished he could do or say something to make it better, "There's nothing I can say buddy that will make this any easier…but I want you to know that I'm here for you brah…"
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Danny nod his confirmation of hearing what he'd said.
Before long, they arrived at the Medical Examiners office. They were met by a sympathetic looking assistant, who couldn't tell them any more that they already knew. Far too quickly, for Danny's liking, they arrived at a door. Danny took a deep, shaky breath before slowly opening it. As he stepped into the room, his breath caught when he saw a body on the table, covered by a white sheet.
As he stepped into the room, Steve took a step back, to give Danny some privacy. He was surprised when the young man's hand gripped onto his sleeve, halting any movement, "Please?" Steve knew what he meant, and nodded his agreement.
"Some cop I am…big, brave – afraid of nothing…" Danny muttered.
"Right now, you're a scared big brother…" Steve insisted. He turned to the assistant, "Can I remove the cover?"
"Of course – I'll be in the office when you're ready – take your time."
"Thank you," Steve said as he closed the door behind them.
When he was certain they were alone, he took Danny's hand and guided him towards the table. He was aware of the younger man's deep breathing and the tiny tremors running through his body.
"Easy Danny…" Steve soothed, "You ready?"
Danny blew out a breath, "God, let's get it over with!" He exclaimed.
Steve moved round the table and took hold of the edges of the cover. Taking a deep breath himself and never taking his eyes off his distraught partner, he slowly pulled back the cover…
Phew! That's chapter 1! Hope it was ok!
I originally had two ideas on how to carry on with this – but after writing the first idea, I got a bit stuck with the second one, so I am sticking with the first one! Should I post it? Please review – let me know what you think. If you think it could be better please tell me nicely – I only do it for fun!
There will be one more chapter after this one.