When the stakes are high

By

Landon Richardson and TealRose

Official Disclaimer

The characters of Steve McGarrett, Chin Ho Kelly, Kono Kalakaua, Adam 'Toast' Charles and anyone else within the story who might sound familiar do not belong to me in any shape or form, I am merely using them for my own entertainment purposes.

The character of Danni Williams could probably be considered mine by now. Although the character was originally based on male Danny Williams I think it's probably to say that she is now her own individual character. She has her own story and her own separate background now, a background and story which is different from male Danny's story. This also means that Grace is different as well since not only does she live full time with her mother but also because Danni and Duncan have a fairly civil relationship with each other. Grace's surname is also Taylor in this saga as Williams is Danni's maiden name while Taylor was her married name.

The characters of Special Agent Jack O'Connor and Ryan Moore do belong to me though.

I should also add that if a character is mentioned who you don't recognise from the show then they probably belong to me as well.

Author Note

Welcome to 'When the stakes are high'.

Just one or two points to make.

Firstly this story was written with the very talented TealRose, we wrote it over Hangout and then I fleshed it out and uploaded it but it is definitely a joint effort from the two of us. If you like NCIS than you should definitely go and check out her work on !

The second point is that this is a story which we refer to as the 'What could have been' saga. This saga contains stories which could easily fit into the main Danni universe canon stories. The canon stories are from what I always refer to as the main saga which features 'The Beginning', 'Family', 'Looking Up', 'Thank you', 'Burn', 'Bonding' and 'Respect the land'. It is referred to as what could have been because they don't actually make it to the canon verse though they are always fun to write and explore.

This story is a short one at only seven chapters but hopefully you will all enjoy it. It's always fun to explore Steve's possessive / jealous side after all.

Thank you and enjoy

Overall Summary

Steve McGarrett had always known that his jealousy was his Achilles heel and that his partner brought out the worse in him but when his jealousy causes him to act out during a case it may cost him everything he love… it may just cost him Danni (Written with Tealrose, part of the 'What could have been' saga, female Danni, McDanni)

Chapter Summary

To say that Steve McGarrett was pissed off at that one moment in time may have been the understatement of the year.

Overall Romance

Steve McGarrett / Danni Williams (McDanni)

Mention of Ryan Moore / Danni Williams (Rynni)

Chapter Romance

One sided Steve McGarrett / Danni Williams (McDanni)

Mention of Ryan Moore / Danni Williams (Rynni)

Other note

Nearly all the places I have stated within this story are either made up or have been gotten from google so I'm sorry in advance if I've got anything wrong or anything.

Other, other note

There are plenty of other McDanni stories exploring different saga and different ways of how things happened. If you're interest in any of them then please check them out. I'm regularly updating so you shouldn't be waiting too long

Chapter One

Unreasonable Rage

To say that Steve McGarrett was pissed off at that one moment in time may have been the understatement of the year.

He had had all weekend to build himself up into the state he was currently in and he knew from experience that it would take something drastic, like shooting some low life scum bag or blowing something up to make the tension ease away. He could have talked to his partner Danni Williams like he normally did on the rare occasion he got into this state, soaking up her calmness like a sponge until he began to reflect the same emotions but this time he couldn't.

This time it was her fault that he was in the state he was in and what made it worst was the knowledge dancing around his head that she had probably no idea that it was or what he was feeling.

He supposed in a way it was his own fault for not being clearer when it came to his instructions. Steve had invited the members of his team over to his place for a barbecue since it was one of the rare times when none of them had any plans. He wanted to give them all a chance to get to know each other a bit better, to see what each member was like outside of work. He hadn't expected everyone to turn up with somebody in toll and he certainly hadn't expected Danni to arrive with Ryan bloody Moore. He should have made it clear that it was an afternoon and evening for the six of them rather than issuing a vague comment about 'the more the merrier'. His team had obviously taken that to mean to invite more people and they had done just that.

It should have been the perfect time for him to talk to Danni, to really get to know what went on beneath her default thoughtful expression but instead Ryan had kept close to her side, giving him no chance to take her to one side and to do what he wanted to do. His initial annoyance had grown and grown, igniting into rage when Kono Kalakaua had casually mentioned to him mid conversation that Danni and Ryan had arrived together in Ryan's car indicating that the two of them were planning on leaving together in one car as well.

He had been pissed when Danni had merely shrugged her shoulders at him when he had managed to corner her for a moment and question her about it, as though it was no big deal that Ryan had picked her up. He had wanted to question her further but Danni's attention had been captured by Toast and she had left him with a smile and a gentle pat on his arm.

The more Steve had thought about it, the more he had felt the urge to punch someone hard round the face. Preferably Ryan Moore.

Why had Ryan picked her up when Danni was more than capable of driving herself?

The two of them didn't even live near each other! Steve lived closer to Danni than Ryan did. If Danni had needed a lift than she could have just rang Steve and he would have gone to pick her up.

It hadn't helped that they had all gone swimming together including Danni who had stripped off her summer dress to reveal a navy blue bikini underneath which had done nothing to show off her figure and everything to show it off.

To top off what had turned into a bad day Danni had proceeded to get a little drunk with Kono which had resulted in Ryan taking Danni home early. The same Danni who rarely drank and who definitely didn't tend to get drunk. The little knowing wink that Ryan had gave him as they had left had done little to improve his mood. Chin Ho Kelly had noticed and had tried to calm him down by pointing out that Danni and Ryan were just friends but it had fallen on deaf ears by the time he said it.

The damage had been done leaving Steve livid.

What he really wanted to do was find a way to take Ryan out of the picture without Danni finding out and being angry at him.

The only question was how to do that.

Now it was Monday and Steve was driving into work in his truck.

His weekend, which he had originally planned spending with Danni getting to know each other and relaxing, had been ruined. Instead he had spent the majority of his time obsessing over what Ryan and Danni had done once they had left the barbeque.

Had Ryan spent the night with her?

If he did, had Danni cooked him breakfast the same way she often did for Steve when he arrived at her house early enough. He had always assumed that it was something special between the two of them which she did for him but now he wasn't so sure.

Maybe they hadn't even headed back to Danni's house. She was always particular about who came back to her place so they may have headed back to Ryan's and maybe he had made Danni breakfast instead and served it to her while she was in bed.

Maybe they had spent the whole weekend, wrapped up in each other and ignoring the rest of the world.

Steve hadn't heard from Danni for the rest of the weekend, something which he was half furious about and half relieved. His mind was too full of the thought of her and Ryan being together, he didn't need her to confirm that they were together to him. There mere thought that they were made him want to tear Ryan's head from his shoulders.

He growled remember the way Ryan had slid his arm around Danni's waist as he had helped her towards his car.

This Monday wasn't going to be a good Monday for any of them.

What Steve needed was a case to sink his teeth into.

His team was a good team and they didn't deserve him taking his temper out on him because he was frustrated and angry. He didn't even know whether he would be able to look at Danni without experiencing the uncomfortable feeling of jealousy which had been plaguing him all weekend to take over.

Steve parked his truck into his reserved space and opened the door, jumping out and slamming it hard behind him. He stood for a moment in the warm breeze, his gaze moving over the rest of the parking lot, lingering on the cars which he knew from his memory belonged to the member of his team before he twisted round and looked at the silver Camaro parked next to his. The sight caused his eyes to narrow slightly even as he felt a sharp stab of relief in the region of his heart.

At least Danni was in work already and had driven herself in which meant that she had been at home sometime throughout the weekend.

He turned and locked his truck out of habit before heading towards the building, pulling the door open and making his way through security and up the stairs until he was on the floor which they were based on. He took a moment to compose himself before he stalked into headquarters his eyes automatically landing on Danni.

She was standing with the other around the computer table dressed in a simple pair of black trousers with a black shirt which had a pattern of small brightly coloured flowers on it. Black high heels finished the outfit while her long blond hair, hair which he knew from experience fell half way down her back, had been collected up and secured in its usual complicated style. The same style which lasted all day and which kept her hair out of the way.

For a moment he thought they were standing there, drinking coffee and gossiping about their weekends until he noticed the files which were spread out in front of them and the fact that either Jack O'Connor, Chin Ho Kelly or Toast had booted up the main database. All of which pointed to the fact that Danni had already picked a case for them to get their teeth stuck into. Something which he was extremely thankful for.

He moved towards them, his eyes flickering around their faces taking in their expressions carefully. Chin's face was locked in a calm look though his black eyes were watching Steve as though he was a bomb which was about to go out and which Chin fully expected to have to try and disarm. Kono caught sight of his face and immediately took a step towards Danni as though to offer the small blonde some protection. It made sense, any concerns Chin had he would probably mention to his cousin. Jack looked serious though that was hardly anything new though Steve did notice that his pale blue eyes were flickering between Steve and Danni more than they usually while Toast looked extremely nervous as though he wished that he was anywhere else rather than where he was.

Everything indicated that they knew that Steve was on the edge. They just weren't sure how they were meant to deal with that fact.

Steve focused his attention on Danni who was looking at one of the file in front of her with a thoughtful look as though she was unaware of anything other than work.

He stopped by her noticing that she looked beautiful though that was hardly a surprise to him. Steve thought she looked beautiful when her face was covered in dirt and mud so her looking normal was hardly going to be different. She looked tired though, as if she hadn't slept much which sent his fragile control crumbling as a wave of jealousy swept through him, mixing with his anger.

She finally looked up at him, giving him a smile which quickly became replaced with a concerned look when he didn't return the smile. He could tell from the look in her large grey eyes that she wanted to ask him what was wrong though he knew she wouldn't do it there in front of the rest of their team.

"Steve" She said softly. "I'm glad you're here, we've been waiting for you to brief the case" She stated before she turned her attention towards Chin, smiling towards the older native man as though everything was normal for them all. "Chin we're ready to start if you are."

"I'm ready Danni" Chin assured her with a nod as he returned the smile before his face became serious. He turned to Toast who was moving awkwardly from foot to foot and spoke calmly to him. "Toast would you mind bringing up the file which Danni sent you earlier?" He asked.

"No problem Chin" Toast assured him, stepping forward and typing on the keyboard, his fingertips flying over the keys. "There you go." He stated a moment later.

"Thanks" Chin commented, looking around them one more time before launching into the details of the case which Danni had picked for them.

Steve listened with half an ear, the rest of his attention focused on Danni, who as usual focused her full attention on Chin. It was hardly a surprise considering what a professional she was, Danni let nothing stand in the way of getting a job done. Any questions which she may have had for Steve would be shelved until it was lunch time. It was a quality of hers which Steve loved and hated in equal measure.

Breathing out, he focused back on Chin.

Pissed off or not at her, he couldn't deny that his partner had picked a case which was not only interesting but one which was completely up their alley.

Three young women, all in their early twenties, had been killed then dressed up in costumes which according to Toast were from popular anime series. They was no reason why they had been targeted or why they were dressed the way they were. Even the means of death was unknown at this time though according to Danni who had already spoken to the Medical Examiner's office, the autopsies were all due to be completed first thing that morning.

"That's all we have at the moment" Chin said, standing straight. "I guess the first thing to figure out is why he dressed them up like he did. Does he have a fetish for anime series?"

"Maybe but it's more likely that they were already dressed that way when they were taken and killed" Danni remarked thoughtfully. "There's a comic convention in town at the moment and those costumes would definitely have fitted in nicely there. In fact we saw quite a few of them yesterday when we were there." She stated.

Steve eyes narrowed at her comment. Who the hell had Danni gone to a comic con with? Did she go with Ryan? Was that who she spent the day with. He opened his mouth to demand the answer when Kono spoke.

"That's right we did" She said, clicking her fingers as she looked around them. "Toast and I went there yesterday and we dragged Danni with us as well since she said during Steve's Barbeque that she had never been there before. There were loads of anime stands there and people dressed exactly like this."

"Do you remember seeing them?" Jack asked, waving his hand towards the plasma screen where pictures of the bodies were being displayed.

"No Jack" Toast said with a shake of his head. "The place was massive and it was proper crowded with people, it was too crowded to pick out one particular outfit especially as at least ten people plus would have been wearing them as well."

"Wait, the three of you went together?" Steve said, cutting into the conversation. They glanced at him and nodded.

"Well the three of us plus my friend Esme" Toast said with a shrug, a slight redness tinging his cheeks. Steve blinked, revelling in the relief that accompanied the words. Words which made it clear that Danni had spent the day with Kono and Toast rather than with Ryan.

"Okay then" He said, taking control of the situation. "Toast and Jack, I want the pair of you to stay here and have a look into the three victims backgrounds. I'm assuming we've got their names so see if there is anything which links them together. Did they know each other or were they just three strangers picked at random. Chin" He continued, turning to the older native and ignoring Jack's and Toast's sounds of acknowledgement. "You and I are going to head down to the comic con centre and see if we can see if we can see our victims on the security tapes they have. Kono" He said, turning lastly to the young woman. "I need you and Danielle to go to each of the victims houses and speak to their families. Let's see what they can tell us about the girls." He glanced around him, ignoring the unimpressed looks which both Chin and Kono were shooting him.

"Steve, may I talk to you in private for a moment please." Danni asked as she took a step towards him, her eyes fixed intently on him. Steve stared at her for a moment, wanting to say yes but he couldn't, not when thoughts about what she and Ryan had been up to together were dancing round his head, fuelling his anger and jealousy.

"No" He responded coolly, hating the glimpse of pain which crossed her features at his dismissal before it fell into a thoughtful look. "What I need you to do instead Danielle is the job I've assigned you. We can talk once the job is concluded if you still need to talk. You are in charge of the HR of the team so I assume you know how to set up a formal meeting." He said.

A heavy silence followed his words as Danni's eyes turned icy.

"Of course Commander, I'll set up that meeting. I won't take up anymore of your time" She told him politely, the cold tone in her voice making him shiver though all he did was turn to Chin and speak.

"Chin, lets' go" He stated before he turned and headed towards the door, wishing he could take back the words which he had just spoken and knowing that he couldn't.

The damage had been done.

Author Note

Thanks for taking the time to read. An especially big thank you if you have left me a review, favourite the story or decided to follow it.

I really appreciate it