Honolulu, Hawaii

Nearly a decade later

8:45 am


Ching !

The black-shaded EV017 Intel I7 gaming laptop ( which had Starcraft 2 installed on it, as was mandatory for any laptop of its strength ), sitting comfortably on the hardwood desk of the 5-0 Task Force's Commander's Palace office, chimed audibly as it informed its owner that a certain date had arrived.

Seated at at desk, reclining slightly in his padded, high backed chair, Steve McGarrett stopped his tapping of the keys- composing an email to his sister, Mary to just check in with her- and glanced at the notification.

His mouth formed into a smile when he saw what it was.

Truthfully, he didn't even know why he had the computer set to remind him of that date. It was, after all, one he held very close to himself, and one that been strong in his memory from then to now. Having his laptop set off a reminder of it was virtually pointless, in truth. He'd put there long ago, as an offhand reflex action, even though he hadn't been anywhere close to having forgotten it back then, let alone now.

It was fitting that such a day was so valued to him. That anniversary was a true milestone in Steve's life. The founding of hardworking, indomitable, unflinching and unyielding ( a series of adjectives which Steve didn't find grandiose and prideful in any way ) law enforcement organization that was known as: The 5-0 Task Force.

On that day, its owner had met a certain salty, and amusingly smartassed New Jerseyan policeman on this very island. Though that encounter had been rife with tension, uncertainty, and the imminent threat of lethal force being used, they'd still been reached a tentative understanding . Which, granted, may have had a rather large something to do with Steve accepting a standing offer from the ( now late ) Governor on the spot.

The one had been exactly what formed 5-0. Right then and there.

I would've not ever guessed that would've led me all the way to this point. But, here I am.

Glad I took that offer. Thanks for that at least, Jameson. If nothing else, glad you reached out

Taking both hands off the keyboard, Steve laced them behind his head, sparing a minute or two to travel down memory lane. He'd worked hard enough over the years- and so far this morning- to have earned this.

So, about that day-

That was just Day 1 of 5-0's long and illustrious history. By the end of it, they had 4 members, and their own headquarters: the fittingly regal and ornate Ali' iolani palace, well situated just a stone's throw from the glorious downtown of Honolulu ( which certainty was preferable to having their HQ stuck way up in the mountains ).

As for that New Jerseyan, he had become the first of those original members of this prestigious organization.

The one and only, the saltiest of salty, the eternal hater of fast driving: Danny " Danno " Williams.

That becoming a member of 5-0 hadn't been entirely his call, or that he'd been less than enthusiastic about it when Steve had all but roped him into the job , didn't really seem to be a bad thing, not to Steve at least- now or then. As he saw it, folks with the right skills sets to suit what you needed, well, it would be a shame to let them sit by the wayside.

It wasn't using them, Arcturus Mengsk style. It was simply taking advantage of what they knew, and could do. That's what the Navy did with SEALs, after all: They had skills, and they were used to best employ them !

Getting Danno onto the team was exactly like that.

Trouble was, Danno, being the salt mine that he was, wasn't exactly fond of that mentality.

Steve'd gotten that impression after only a few seconds after he'd met him, and within the first few hours, that working with Danno would be an acquired taste. He'd been, different, from any other cop Steve'd ever interacted with, in a uniquely neurotic way.

And he'd proven to be right.

Shot, Danno had been ( on that first day, to boot ). Nearly stabbed to death. Nearly drowned. He'd been nearly run over. He had nearly been killed by a sadistically designed bioweapon. He had dozens of brushes with death over the years on this island, virtually all of them tied directly to how he was a member of Steve's 5-0.

While all that was going on, Danno'd had his hands full with more matters. He'd grappled with pitfalls of family crises, and ridden shotgun with Steve on their many, many car chases, which was something that Steve felt warranted a medal.

With all of that sitting on his shoulders, it hadn't truly surprised Steve, that Danno had unloaded some of that impressive saltiness onto him. Not a day ( including the first ) had gone by without the New Jersey man giving Steve a piece of his mind, in some fashion or other.

Sometimes, it'd been snide remarks, delivered behind Steve's back, just after, or even in the middle of, their criminal chasing/busting action. Others, had been yelled tirades, complete with hand gestures and what Steve could only call hyperbole.

Yep. That about sums it all up, doesn't it ? That's about the whole sordid, but still overall glorious, past of the good 'ol Williams and McGarrett brothers in arms duo.

Man, he can be annoying as all get out some days, isn't he. Yeah, I told him that. Pretty much marks that history, doesn't it ? It'd be boring otherwise, to be frank with myself.

True. It was all true. But, amazingly, there was another side to that coin.

The bit about them being brothers in arms.

Because, they were. It was an amazing paradox; that someone who complained and grumbled, protested and chewed Steve out for everything as Danno did, could also be the kind pf person who would, and had, risk his life for him. Every firefight they'd ever been caught in over the years, Danno had been right there next to him, in as much mortal peril as Steve was. He'd covered Steve in those fights, keeping their enemies off him. They had actual, real teamwork in those moments, differences or not.

It was like being back on the SEAL teams again.

For all his objections and wanting to do things in an orderly fashion, Danno went along with Steve's ( mad ) schemes and tactics anyway, proving that he had an uncanny amount of common sense ( or, as he often bemoaned, a lack of it )

Outside of them, there were other strange moments where they got along, but also butted heads and bickered. When Steve had been gravely wounded by a burst of machine gun bullets, to the point where he was on the edge of death, in dire need of a liver transplant, it was Danno who stepped in to donate his.

Not that Steve didn't already know he could count on Danno by then, because he did, but when he'd done that for him ? Donating his own organ to save Steve ?

What more proof do you need, that someone is your brother ?

You know you care Danno, Steve nodded, appreciating the truth of it.

You don't always express it very articulately, but I know you do, brother. You know it, I know it, and that's why we've survived as a team as long as this. 'Cause I got you brother, and vice versa.

Still got bad taste in clothes and girls, but we'll gloss over that. Thanks.

One and only Danno.

' Nkk, nkk, nkk '

Someone was knocking on his door.

Blinking, Steve unlaced his fingers, and glanced at where the sound was coming from.

When he saw who was there, he couldn't help but chuckle.

Speak of the salt mine

Sitting upright, Steve gripped the rests of his chair, and stood to let Danno in.

" You were all zoned out in there ", the New Jerseyan man ,by way of saying hello, as he stepped inside. " It was kind of amusing to watch: like a wild animal, sedated. "

" That's what Catherine said to me this morning ", Steve replied, grinning, as he reached out to clasp Danno's forearm in a suitably brotherly greeting.

" Oh, that's right. Your wife watches you sleep. Like a stalker "

Danno delivered that sentence with his usual dryness, and Steve chuckled out loud.

Some things just stayed the same.

" Relax. If she wanted me out of the way, it'd have happened by now ", the SEAL assured. "You're here early, at least. "

Danno shrugged. " Grover called. Said he'd be a bit late; alarm didn't go off. He's taken the years a bit worse off than even you. "

" What's that supposed to mean, hm ?"

Pointing to Steve's chin, Danno stated:

" A bit of grey, man, in that stubby excuse of a goatee of yours. Frankly, it blows my mind you're not all steel headed, ie, given the madness roller coaster that is your life ".

Steve scoffed good naturedly, but reflexively reached a hand up, and bushed against the goatee.

He had noticed it, actually. Not enough there to say he was " greying ", but you could notice it from a distance.

North of 40, and as much as I hate to say, Danno's got a point. This life isn't good for keeping your adrenaline levels down

Not that I'd have traded it for anything, though.

" Yes, well, look at yourself before you wreck yourself. That face of yours ? I could use it for leather, its got so many lines in it. ", Steve jabbed back.

" Besides, Cath likes it ".

" Hmph "

Danno moved his jaw around, stretching skin that was, admittedly, weather worn, and creased .

" Ok, ok, point taken. "

He shrugged again. Steve smirked.

" Getting on in years, ain't we ? "

" A bit. I can still run faster than you. "

" And that's why you'll end up bound to a beach chair, unable to leave it on account of your shattered hip. "

" Spending the rest of my days, looking out over the vast Pacific ? Doesn't sound so bad. "

Danno burst out laughing at that, spontaneously, which wasn't like him, really.

Then again, as he'd just said, they'd both been around the block, and for quite a long while to boot. On one hand, some of their traits- Steve's boldness, and Danno's saltiness- were still around, and would always be so.

On the other, though, they had kind of mellowed out.

Kind of.

" Yeah, I can see you doing that. And liking it ", Danno agreed.

He gestured for the door.

" But, I think it'll have to wait. Come on, man. She'll be here any minute, and you know what they say about handing over the baton ".

That was true.

Steve knew exactly what, and who, Danno was referring to. It was a moment that he'd been planning for, and one he'd known was on its way.

He felt a second or so of pride.

She has earned this. Nobody on the team could argue with that.

Have to hand that proverbial baton on to someone, eventually. I think now, and her, are both right.

" Sure thing, Danno. ", Steve agreed, nodding.

" Let me check that I've got Tani's captain's bars ready. "


" Ready for this ? "

Junior put the question forth casually, or so he wanted it to be.

He was standing with his fiancee, outside the soaring wooden doors of the Palace. Warm ocean air blew steadily around them, carrying the scent of salt. It was warm outside, and though clumps alluringly cottony, white clouds filled the sky, plenty of light filtered down anyway. The flora planted outside the building was thriving, bright and vibrant.

It was shaping up to be a beautiful day, and fittingly so.

It reminded Junior of the day he received his Trident; the coveted insignia depicting an eagle on an anchor, clutching a flintlock pistol in one talon, with a trident crossed behind it. After months and months of some of the most demanding and rigorous military training known to man- a regiment Junior was thankful he was suited for in character and mind, not just body- he reached the end.

The light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. And it'd been one of the highlights of his life, without question.

On a day very much like this one, he was given his Trident, at Coronado.

Fitting, he decided, that days with momentous occasions taking place in them tended to look like this.

And, Tani's promotion to 5-0 Captain definitely qualified, as far as he was concerned.

Trouble was, the woman of the hour, standing at his side ( as usual, as was her want these days ), had all the telltale signs of butterflies in one's stomach.

She'd bitten her lower lip more than once, to begin with.

Junior put an arm around her; lower down her back, and held her firmly.

" Hun, being nervous is fine. Its what you do with it that counts ".

" There's no bravery without fear "

At his sage advice, Tani exhaled, then smiled slightly.

" More of your SEAL mind-games ? ", she remarked, glancing at him, an eyebrow raised. " I hate to say this, but they're actually seem useful right now. "

Junior laughed- more of a huff, but it counts- at that.

Giving advice to anyone, let alone his girl, hadn't been his strong suit for most of his years. He'd been more of a follow-the-leader-kind of guy, sticking to plans and walking in the footsteps of those higher in rank and with greater experience than he did.

That was how soldiers thought.

Over the years with the greatest commanding officer he'd ever had, though-Steve McGarrett, obviously -he'd gotten more used to the idea, and concept, of giving someone advice, and helping them out when they seemed like it was warranted.

How often had she looked to him, for what to do ? One way or another, Junior had been in that position, and he'd acclimated to it.

He knew Tani was capable, and not some shrinking violet. She could handle most things and thugs that came their way- nobody had forgotten that encounter with that pyromaniac in the forest, or the night they were nearly killed by that bioweapon. But none of that changed that she was still his girl, and sometimes, even she needed someone like him.

A stabilizing agent.

" Well, you know me: Someone has to be the source of wisdom here ". Junior shrugged.

" If my ' wisdom ', you mean ' military aphorisms that actually pertain to everyday life, then yes. You are a well of that ".

Tani wasn't wrong about that. They both knew it. If there was one aphorism of the military that was certainly true ( as well as the one Junior has just spoken ), it was that trained men stayed sharp. It couldn't be pried loose.

Tani turned to face him.

" Really, though. You're here, and that means the whole world to me. This is the biggest step in my career. The kind a that gets in your mind as a rookie, and stays there till right now. Its here. "

She smiled.

" But, you already knew all of that. "

Junior could've answered with words. But, even better, he did something else.

Still with an arm around her, he pulled her closer, and kissed her.

" So did you ", he added warmly.

" Shall we head within, then ? "

Glancing once more up at the big doors, Tani allowed a moment to go by.

One moment, to let more of her nervousness slip away, after what Junior had said, and perhaps more than that, because he was here.

He was right, and so was she.

" We shall. "