A/N: I blame the DWOCD forum for this story. Somehow in some discussion it was decided that I should write from different people's points of view during the Rick Peterson episode. I'm not sure what possessed me to agree and think this was a good idea! I've really struggled over this at times which is why you only get perspective from three people and not everyone involved - I just stuck to the main players for this particular part of the episode. This could be considered a very loose companion to my story "Remains of the Day."
Thanks: Thanks to Wenwalke for the quick beta. Any mistakes are my own. Thanks to Fifilla for helping me get through this story and not just give up on it. I appreciate the support and suggestions.
Danny had been in a daze since the moment he looked into that airplane bathroom to find their victim was Dave Collins. He had taken it personally, but it hadn't felt like a personal attack on him until much too late. He was kicking himself for not considering that as a possibility. But it had become very personal very quickly and now he was running out of options as he felt around the garbage can for the gun that Peterson said was waiting there. He tried to control his shaking hands and calm his breathing. He felt like he'd been running on pure adrenaline for hours.
Danny could feel Peterson's eyes on him, and he wanted nothing more than to take the gun and use it. And it wasn't Step Stan he currently wanted to use it on, but that's what Peterson was expecting. Danny's mind whirled as he tried to think of a way out of this predicament and still find and rescue Grace. His hand finally found the gun. He pulled it out and automatically checked it. He felt a little better with the gun in hand; a little bit more in control and though he didn't know how yet, he knew that there was no way he was going to let Peterson win this one. He just had to keep his head about him and try to think clearly. He took a deep breath to focus himself.
As he looked up, he could see Stan headed his way. Time seemed to slow for Danny as his detective's mind and observation skills kicked in. He noticed all the people in the park but was relieved to see that there were fewer than he had feared. He heard Stan talking to him and as he raised the gun and tried to explain what was going on, he saw in Stan's eyes the exact moment that the man knew Danny was really going to shoot him. Danny hated what he was about to do, and hoped there would be a way to make this right eventually. He had never really hated Stan, but had hated the circumstances surrounding his relationship with Stan and right now, he most definitely hated the fact that he was about to shoot an innocent, unarmed man and would not regret it at all. Whatever it took to get Grace back. That was all that mattered to him right now.
Danny heard Steve yelling at him and relief flooded his system that his friend had found him. He knew that meant Chin and Kono had to be nearby as well. He just had to make this look good to give Chin and Kono time to get Peterson into custody. Danny raised the gun and took careful aim at Stan. He heard Stan's question, "For Grace?" and saw the man square his shoulders to take a bullet willingly for his stepdaughter. Danny didn't have time to dwell on that as he pulled the trigger and then put two more shots into the ground next to Stan as Steve finally caught up to him.
Danny ignored Stan writhing on the ground clutching his wounded shoulder despite his inner voice screaming at him to help the man. An even louder inner voice was screaming at him to go find his daughter. He turned, knowing Steve was right there, and grabbing his partner by the top of his vest, told him, "He's okay, listen. I put one in his shoulder. The rest are in the grass, okay? Tell Rachel I'm sorry." There was so much more he wanted to say, but he had to find Grace. The longer it took, the more it felt like he was suffocating. Right now, he felt as if his chest would simply cave in from the weight and pressure of the stress.
Danny felt buoyed by the brief contact with his partner, knowing that he didn't have to deal with this alone any more. He had also heard Chin's authoritative voice followed by Kono's and knew that they had Peterson in custody. He knew what he had to do and was willing to accept the consequences for his actions later. Right now all that mattered was finding out where Grace was.
Without a second thought, and certainly without hesitation, Danny strode over to where Peterson stood handcuffed between Chin and Kono and shot him in the leg. He knelt down and with barely contained fury questioned Peterson about Grace, "Where is she? I swear the next one will be in your head... Where. Is. She?"
For a moment, Danny thought Peterson wasn't going to tell him. The thought stole his breath away and his vision tunneled as though he was going to black out. He pushed that back and tapped the barrel of the gun against Rick's forehead. Danny's eyes glinted dangerously and his voice was rough and deadly, "Make no mistake, Rick. I will kill you if you don't tell me."
"Really, D?" Peterson's voice dripped with disbelief. "You would kill your old friend?"
Danny stared into Peterson's eyes and saw no trace of the partner he used to know nor the man he used to call friend. That man had effectively died to him ten years ago. He matched Peterson's cocky grin with one of his own, "Watch me."
Danny managed to get the information and make it to the car without his hands totally shaking though inside he was a quaking mess as nightmare images of past kidnapping cases floated through his mind. For once, he wasn't about to argue with Steve about driving his car.
On the ride to the storage units where Peterson said Grace was hidden, Danny was once again grateful for his partner's stalwart presence. No words were spoken between the two, but Danny could feel the support and determination emanating from his friend. Danny's stomach was in knots as he pounded on the door to the storage unit and he swore his heart stopped as he listened for Grace's voice.
"Daddy!"
Danny's heart started beating again when he heard his daughter's muffled voice, "Stay away from the door, Baby, okay?"
Danny shot the lock off the door and heaved the door up with Steve close behind. He tossed boxes aside and the sight of his daughter bound to the chair was both the most beautiful sight to behold and the most infuriating. He quickly knelt in front of her and placed his hands gently on her face and then hugged her, "Grace, you okay, Baby? Huh?"
Grace nodded and tried not to cry any more. Her Danno had found her just like she knew he would.
"You sure?" Danny hated to see the tear streaked face but was so relieved to see her alive.
"I wanna go home," Grace's voice trembled. She couldn't wait for Uncle Steve to cut away the duct tape so she could hug her dad like she'd been wanting to do since the whole, terrible nightmare started.
"I know, Baby. We're gonna go home right now. It's all over, Monkey, okay? C'mere." Danny picked her up and held her tight which still wasn't close enough for either one of them right now. Danny threw a relieved look at his partner but all he could do was whisper in Grace's ear, "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry."
As Danny emerged from the storage unit carrying Grace, Steve close by, he could still feel his heart beating much too fast and could feel his legs starting to tremble with stress and fatigue. He felt as if he'd just run a marathon. Twice. Rachel ran up and he enfolded her in his hug with Grace. He was thankful that she didn't deck him for shooting Stan. He was going to have to talk with her about that later and hope that she wouldn't want to take Grace away from him for that. He'd also have to face Stan to apologize and explain. He shrugged off those thoughts for another time as he relished the feel of his daughter, safe and unharmed, in his arms. After what felt like too short of a time, he allowed Rachel to take Grace and urged them towards the waiting ambulance to get Grace checked out.
With every fiber of his being, Danny wanted to go with them and never let Grace go ever again, but he also knew he owed his team an explanation and to thank them for all they had done for him today. He took a deep breath and turned to accept the consequences for the most terrifying day of his life.
