Thank you so kindly for your comments. I appreciate each and every one.
There will eventually be some Steve whump and hopefully the ending will clean up the mess.
H50H50H50H50H50H50H50hH50H50H50H50
Once Officer Doug Monsoon was ready, the two friends walked out to Danny's car.
"I tell you, Danny, this was one hell of an assignment. The suspect kept slipping through our fingers, but we finally nailed him."
"No doubt you were instrumental in the capture."
"Well I don't want to toot my own horn but yeah, a little."
The two shared a laugh.
"Mister Humble, there. I know you're a great cop and you'll make a fine detective."
"Thanks. I assume you get to shine on Five-0 as well? I remember how McGarrett ripped you away from Meka to make you his partner."
"I was miffed at how he did it but later on we became a good team."
"Five-0 has one hell of a great reputation. You're lucky."
"Yeah," Danny snorted apathetically.
Danny's impassive tone made Douglas take notice. "Something the matter?"
"Ah well, maybe it's just me, I don't know. I may be overreacting but lately the dynamic between us just isn't the same."
"How do you mean?"
"We don't seem to connect like we used to. To be honest I don't think he needs me as his partner anymore."
"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard you say. McGarrett wouldn't have bothered with you if he didn't think you were worth it. He hired you because he was impressed with your detective skills, didn't he?"
"Ever since he brought his girl into the fold, he's sort of nudged me aside. Not intentionally mind you but he's focusing primarily on what she has to offer and not so much what I, Officer Kalakaua and Lieutenant Kelly have to contribute."
"Have you called him on it?"
"Not really, no. I figured he would eventually come to realize it himself."
"Girlfriends! Yuck! Doesn't he know it's not healthy to mix business with pleasure?"
"Apparently not. I was expecting her to help out from time to time, you know like she did before, but now she's sort of taken over the ship and the captain as well. "
"Careful, if this goes too far there's bound to be mutiny on the bounty and the whole ship will sink."
Danny chuckled. "No fear of that happening while I'm on board." There was a brief lull in the conversation before Danny veered off subject. "I hear you're losing your partner?"
"Captain Grover told you?" Danny nodded. "Yeah. Again because of a girl. Gallagher's getting married and transferring out to California. He'll have to start over with the benefits but in his case love prevails over money. Let's see how long that lasts," Monsoon sneered.
"Bummer."
"Yeah, well I was gonna lose him as a partner anyway once I made detective. Captain Grover is thinking of pairing me with Tannen but I'm certainly not looking forward to having him as a mentor."
"I wouldn't either. Is he still the self-conceited arrogant knucklehead I used to know?"
"Worse. I sure hope he finds someone else," Monsoon sighed and stared out the window, cursing his fate.
Danny paused before blurting out, "How about me?"
Monsoon's head snapped to the left, His eyes darted to Danny, staring intently at him. "You're serious?" Danny answered with a shrug. "You'd leave Five-0?"
"I haven't made a decision yet. But if it came to that?"
"Things can't be that bad, Danny?" Danny merely sighed and kept his eyes on the road. "I hear around that you and McGarrett are like an old married couple. You'll work it out."
"I'm not so sure anymore," Danny said surly.
"You'd better think this through but if you ultimately choose to divorce him over irreconcilable differences, know that it'd be an honor and privilege to work with you. You'd be a great teacher. But ain't no way McGarrett's gonna let you go."
"I'll talk to him. Besides I don't think he'll object now that he has his girl with him. She's wired into everything, so why does he need me? I have a hunch he wants to make her a permanent member of the team. "
"Did you ask Grover?"
"Yeah we discussed it. He was all too eager to offer me the job. Says it's mine if I want it. Guess he wants to stick it to McGarrett by taking his partner, not that I would be doing it out of revenge. He gave me three weeks to mull it over."
"Danny that'd be great! I don't want to get my hopes up though because I suspect McGarrett will come to realize what a huge chunk he'd be losing if you left Five-0. He'll fight to the death to keep you on his task force. Heck I would!"
"The Captain said he's prepared to go to the governor if needed."
"As I said Danny, nothing would please me more than to work with you, but don't make any rash decisions here on account of some girl. Don't let her break a great team."
"I think it's too late for that, Doug. Too late," Danny deplored with a heavy heart.
H50H50H50H50H50H50H50hH50H50H50H50
In the next few days Danny became increasingly aware of Steve's true intentions towards Catherine. They were spending most of their time together while he would often join Officer Monsoon and even Chin and Kono on outings. Both cousins said to have also noticed a glaring change in Steve's attitude ever since Catherine joined the investigations, and they too came to the conclusion that Steve was seriously considering making Catherine a full-time 5-0 agent.
Kono, Chin and Danny stuck with the case at hand but none really had any involvement, as Catherine was always one step ahead of them with her contacts.
One afternoon as the third week was drawing to an end and that Danny needed to give Grover his answer, he set out to confront Steve with his intentions with Catherine.
"Hey Steve, you've got a minute?"
"Sure come on in," he waved Danny in. "I'm just finishing up this report." He closed the file and tossed in on the corner of his desk. "Say I'm free tonight. How about I cash in on that rain check of an offer of a pizza and beer?"
"Where's Catherine?"
"It's the girls' night out. She's getting together with a few of her Navy buddies that are coming ashore."
"I see. Yeah I'd like that. My place or yours?" he asked somewhat aloof.
"Well my place is better. We'll have it all to ourselves."
"Before Catherine comes back."
"Well yeah but I expect it'll be late at night."
"I've been meaning to ask you about Catherine and her involvement in Five-0 cases."
"Yeah she's a great asset, isn't she?" Steve boasted.
"Yeah she is," Danny replied with a hint of annoyance. "What are your intentions with her?"
"Glad you asked." He stood and came to stand by Danny. "I was thinking of asking the governor to make her a full-fledged member of Five-0. I didn't want to ask before squaring it with you, Kono and Chin first."
"That's very big of you," Danny said with dripping sarcasm that was somehow lost on Steve, as his excitement to have his girl on the team blinded him to Danny's concerns.
"What do you think?"
"What? My opinion matters now?" Danny said on a snappy tone that took Steve aback.
"Of course it does. It always has. Something wrong?"
"I just," Danny started and then decided that it would make matters worse if he voiced his misgivings now. "I was just thinking tonight, how about BBQ steaks instead of pizzas?"
Steve grinned. "I think that's a good idea. I've just bought a batch. I'll put them on the grill. You bring the beers?"
"Sure. So it's guys' night out"
"Looking forward to it!" Steve cheered, patting Danny on the back.
H50H50H50H50H50H50H50hH50H50H50H50
In early evening, Danny showed up at Steve's house with a few Longboards. He went straight to the kitchen, uncapped two bottles, then put the rest in the frig before looking for Steve that he spotted on the lanai already setting up the grill for the steaks.
"Hey! Need some help?" Danny handed Steve his beer.
"Thanks but I've got everything under control."
"I put the rest in the frig."
"Great! Sorry there's no game to watch tonight but we could put on a classic?"
"Sounds good, but just hanging out is good enough for me. We rarely do this anymore," Danny hinted, hoping the message would get across.
"That's true. Guess we're so wrapped up in the cases that we hardly take time to ourselves. And it's not because we have our women with us that we guys can't hang out once in a while?" Steve said with a hint of remorse that cued Danny to broach the delicate subject.
"Say Steve I've been meaning..."
"I hope you and Gaby didn't have anything planned tonight?"
"Gaby is away visiting her parents."
This was news to Steve. "For how long?"
"Two weeks, maybe more."
Steve picked up on his partner's sombre tone. "Is everything all right between you two?"
"Of course. We're doing fine," Danny slightly fibbed to steer clear from the topic of girlfriends.
"You sure now?" Steve pried, studying his partner's features that clearly belied his emotions.
"Yeah. We're good," Danny answered with a dash of annoyance. "Listen, can we go and..."
"Steve?" Catherine called out as she crossed the threshold.
Both partners froze on the spot and stared at each other, puzzled. Steve took the lead and went to investigate with a reluctant Danny in tow. "Cath?" he exclaimed in surprise. "I thought you were having dinner with your pals?"
She puffed out a frustrated sigh. "I was but their CO ordered them to remain aboard the ship. Seems they are weighing anchor sooner than planned. Our evening is therefore ruined!"
"Danny and I were about to grill some steaks. You want to join us?" He turned to Danny who strove to keep his bearing in the face of yet another kick in the teeth. "You don't mind if Catherine joins us, do you?"
Danny loathed that Steve was putting him on the spot. "Of course I don't mind," he pushed through a fake smile.
"Thanks guys. I'll just go freshen up and I'll be right with you."
"Take your time. Longboards are in the frig," Steve invited as he watched her hurrying up the stairs to his bedroom.
With blood boiling, Danny gritted his teeth and mumbled peevishly beneath his breath, "What the hell is happening?"
"Did you say something?" Steve asked innocently as he took another swig off his beer.
"Nothing."
"I realize this puts a dent in our plans but seeing how she's alone tonight..."
"I don't mind, really," Danny lied, trying to keep his poise so Steve wouldn't notice.
"I believe you wanted to talk to me about something?"
"Never mind. It can wait." Danny returned to the lanai and quaffed his beer in three hearty gulps.
H50H50H50H50H50H50H50hH50H50H50H50
Two days later, Danny had the day off and decided to join Doug on his police runs. Together they managed to stop a convenient store robbery and even apprehended a purse snatcher.
They stopped off for lunch where the topic of McGarrett came up.
"Danny, man, you can't let this fester. Can't you see it's eating you up? You've got to talk to McGarrett."
"I've tried, don't you think I've tried?" Danny defended vehemently. "I don't want to sever the tie cold turkey but whenever I broach the subject we get interrupted."
"The girlfriend?"
"Not only her, but she does have a knack for showing up at the worse possible times."
"You know McGarrett's bound to hear about it and when he does, he'll hit the roof."
"I know. I'll have to make time within the next twenty-four hours, after which I need to give Captain Grover my answer."
"I don't have to tell you that Grover is already relishing the prospect of having you on the team."
"I don't think it's so much for my skills as it is to irk McGarrett," Danny implied with a small curl of the lip.
"Don't think that. True I suspect the added bonus is to see the look on McGarrett's face when you come over to our camp."
"I can deal with it."
A ring interrupted their conversation. Danny reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his phone. His eyes dropped upon reading the ID caller. "Steve? What is it?"
"Danny, I need you back at headquarters."
"Steven, this is my day off," Danny lamented.
"I know. I'm sorry but a new case was just dropped into our lap and I need you to work at finding a lead."
"Well, why can't Chin and Kono do it?"
"They're tying up loose ends on the last case."
"Why don't you ask Catherine?"
Doug rolled his eyes in sympathy.
"She's already on it. Look, can you come or not?" Steve asked rather impatiently.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll be there," Danny assured half-heartedly before ending the call.
"Duty calls?" Doug teased.
"Yeah."
They stood from their chairs, left a tip on the table and walked to the police cruiser parked across the street.
"This might just be your opportunity to finally get it off your chest."
Unfortunately, again, this was not to be and Danny found himself at his wits' end.
H50H50H50H50H50H50H50hH50H50H50H50
Before coming to work the next day, he dropped by a quiet corner of the world and sat on a park bench to gather his thoughts. He figured that perhaps he was overreacting and that he needed to make an extra effort to adjust to the new team dynamics.
He liked Catherine for she was making his partner happy, not that she had any influence in toning down his Ramboesque behavior, which was quite the opposite actually. He realized that she was not to blame, but rather Steve who had unwittingly tossed his teammates aside in order to squeeze her in. Danny had hoped that once she had blended in, Steve would settle back into the old Ohana format but that never came to be. The old saying that you can't mix business with pleasure was proven true in this situation.
He was torn but he couldn't go on feeling this way. He needed to address the issue with McGarrett before slipping down the road of no return. He feared that their friendship would take a hit knowing the threat of leaving would be perceived as an ultimatum to which McGarrett would not take kindly, but he owed it to his partner and to himself to be honest.
He arrived at HQ where pairs of eyes fell on him, save for Catherine's who was out of the office.
"What's the matter?" Danny asked dubiously.
"Steve asked to see you in his office the second you walked in," Kono informed grimly.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"He didn't say but he was pretty riled up," Chin said.
Danny turned to Steve's office whom he saw working at his computer. The moment he spotted Danny through the glass window, the seething commander stood from his desk, sending his chair flying against the bookcase behind. He then strode over to the door and practically yanked the knob off its hinges. "Daniel, get in here!" he barked out.
