Chapter 2
McGarrett home 6:00 am same morning
Steve turns over to cuddle with his wife and notices her side of the bed is empty. He thought for sure they would have time to make love if he skipped his morning swim. Last night she had been too exhausted and he didn't have to heart to wake her after he rocked Saylor Marie to sleep. John Steven was asleep next to Catherine in their bed after she nursed him and Steve picked him up and put him in his crib. He stood in the twins' room and looked at his sleeping children and thought he was the luckiest man alive. He has two great healthy children, and gorgeous and perfect wife, and a job he loves. Well, after tomorrow's meeting, maybe he won't have a job, but he still is blessed with a wonderful family and he should be happy about that for now. He goes to bed and cuddles with Cath and he falls asleep with his wife in his arms.
He gets up to go find Catherine and sees her asleep on the daybed in the twins' room holding John again. John has been fussy the last few days and he knows she's been having a hard time getting him to nurse and sleep. Saylor is sleeping through the night, but John wakes up once or twice still. Steve walks over and gently takes John and puts him in his crib and goes and gets Cath and carries her to their room. She's so tired she doesn't even wake up until he decides to go for his swim and kisses her goodbye. As soon as she feels his lips on hers, she pulls him down and rolls on top of him.
"Morning sailor, are you going to go for your swim? or can I interest you in some land maneuvers?" she says as she turns and gives him a very erotic and nice good morning kiss.
"Oooh Baby, I love your plan much better." He finds her ear and start to kiss her. "Rough night, Cath? I woke up twice and I missed you."
"No, not rough, just a normal night that I got to spend some time alone with our son, I guess I fell asleep holding John again, sorry. You should have come to get me, didn't we have plans?" Cath says as she winks at Steve and he puts his arms around her and kisses the nape of her neck. Then he leans into Catherine and nestles his head into her shoulder and starts tickling her behind the ear with his tongue while he pulls up her nightie and caresses her full and sensitive breasts.
"That's right, we did, but once I saw you sleeping so peacefully with John, I couldn't wake you just so that I could make mad passionate love to you. You're doing so much, and I haven't been pulling my share of the load, and I just didn't think I had the right to be selfish and wake you."
"Well, Commander, making mad passionate love to your wife isn't being selfish, it's being the good and perfect husband that I adore more than you know. And for the record, I very much wanted to make mad passionate love to you and have missed you lately too. I know what's on your plate, so I understand, Steve. How about we make a real date for tonight and I call Kona and Charlie to stay over and watch the twins. She's been bugging me to let her stay for the night and since it's Friday, you're not likely to make her go to the office. I want to take my handsome husband out for dinner and a night of dancing and stay over at the Hilton. What do you say to that, Sailor?"
"Umm, I say that I love you so much and you always know just the right thing we need. I've missed you so much, Cath, and want you to know that I am sorry I've been working late, and after today, I may not have a job so I will be able to be home a lot more." Steve turns Catherine around in his arms and kisses her hungrily.
"Steve, Danny will be here soon, I don't think we have time for this, but you know I would love to, you are just so hard to resist." Cath says.
"No, that's the beauty of this morning….Danny isn't picking me up today and I have time to remind you how awesome you are and how much I want and adore you." Steve tells her as he starts to unbutton her nightie. Cath unties his trunks and slides them off and pushes him on their bed and straddles him. They make love and both think that's the best way to start off their day.
45 minutes later...
"Hey Steve, you're going to be late if you don't get a move on." She said as she hit his chiseled hard ass when he walked by her naked on his way to the shower. He stops on her side of the bed puts his hands out and helps her up and puts his arms around her again. He helps her put on her robe, kisses her lips, she and puts on her slippers to go downstairs to make him some breakfast.
"Baby, emmm, thank you for the early morning maneuvers, beats a swim any day. I've missed seeing you this last week, we haven't had enough mommy and daddy time." Steve tells her holding her in his arms. She loved this morning routine. While he was in the shower, she would make coffee and breakfast and they would have fifteen minutes together without any interruptions. That is unless I come to pick him up early and stay for breakfast. But not today, Steve was going to take his own truck and meet Catherine for lunch then go with her to take the twins for their six month check up. Perfect time for it, John hasn't been sleeping and they're not sure why. Cath thinks it's because he's teething, and Steve thinks it's because something may be wrong with his ears. Maybe they are both right, or maybe they are both wrong….they will know soon enough. Steve comes down to breakfast carrying Saylor who's wide awake and blowing bubbles at him.
"Cath, Princess is awake, I changed her all ready and brought her down so she wouldn't wake up John."
"Thanks, Honey, I didn't hear the monitor, I think I need to change the batteries. Do you want some juice or just coffee?"
"Coffee's fine. Sit down, let me get it." He puts Saylor in her baby swing and turns on the music and lets her swing. That is one of her favorite things to do and it helps Cath when she has to deal with John and has to put her someone safe.
"No, you sit down, you work too many hours to do breakfast. It's one of the few things I get to do for you that I really enjoy. I told you, I would rather you do the dishes after dinner so I can get the twins ready for their baths before you come up to help me. Are you nervous about the Grand Jury report coming down today, honey?"
"Yes and No. I don't regret the decisions I made, at the time, my first concern was the safety of the public, not saving the drugs from blowing up. If the report finds what I did to be wrong, then I am prepared to pay the price. I'm just glad no one was injured or killed, and that we took down six pounds of drugs off the street and have the names of the dealers and now have information that we turned over to the DEA and FBI."
"Well, I agree with you and know that whatever happens, the three of us are very proud of you and love you very much." She leans down from behind puts her arms around Steve's neck and kisses him and her pulls her to sit on his lap.
"So John and Saylor told you this, did they?" Steve responds.
"Yes, of course they did, they tell me quite a few things these days. Like the fact that you were talking to the airlines last week and bought tickets for somewhere, and won't tell them where. And, that you have to do your three week reserve next month, and you are trying to get out of it because it's our 9th anniversary."
"Really, they told you all that as well? Looks like I guess daddy will have to have a talk with them about keeping secrets that are a surprise for mommy." Catherine wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him passionately and feels so happy and safe in his arms.
"If you say so, Steve. You do remember that I WAS in Naval Intelligence and know how to put clues together and sometimes you are not very good at covering your handsome hard chiseled ass." She gets up and sits in her chair and starts eating her pancakes.
"You make the best chocolate chip pancakes, Lt. yumm, my absolute favorite." Steve says as finishes his and goes for seconds. "What time is their appointment, Cath?"
"1:30 pm. Did you want me to meet you at the Palace or at the diner around the corner?"
"Why not come to the palace a little before noon so the ladies downstairs can see the twins. They have been bugging me for weeks to bring them in and I've been too preoccupied. How does that sound?"
"Sure, no problem, all those ladies have been so nice since they were born, and I do love showing them off. Especially since John has your killer blue eyes, and Saylor has your sweet little button nose."
"Pardon me, Lieutenant, but I think you are mistaken. Saylor is the spitting image of her beautiful brown eyed mother, and John has your cute little bug nose.
"If you say so, honey." She gets up and brings the coffee and pours more for Steve and rubs his back with hr other hand.
"I'm excited for our date night, do you what me to talk to Kono or are you going to call her? And should I make reservations for dinner?
"Sure, ask Kono, and as long as the date ends with a walk on the beach before we go to the Hilton, surprise me where we're going to eat and dance but remember I have to have time to get dressed, and get the babies ready so please give me at least an hour. Can you stay here an extra minute so I can run upstairs and check on John? I don't really like to leave Saylor alone downstairs for too long. Where did you put the AA batteries?" She gets up and starts walking upstairs.
"Sure, I'd be happy to stay and see my little princess. I'll get the batteries, Cath." He goes to the pantry and gets out a package of batteries and changes the ones in the monitor. He then goes and picks up his daughter and starts playing with and kissing her. He throws her in the air and she starts to giggle. "Hey baby girl, do you know how much daddy loves you? More than all the stars in the sky, more than the water in the ocean, and more than all the air that we breathe." He catches her again and starts kissing her on the neck and she keeps giggling. Catherine comes down holding John and goes to the couch to change him.
"Thanks, honey. #1 son is awake, do you want to say hello?"
"Absolutely, here, let me change him while you finish your breakfast. I put some cereal in Saylor's bowl and got out her peaches." He puts Saylor in her high chair and takes John from Catherine. He changes his diaper and spends a few minutes tickling and playing with him. Catherine watches Steve with his son and smiles at how happy they both look and how John is looking more and more like his daddy. She tells herself that she is one very lucky woman, and crosses her fingers that Steve's day goes well. She puts a bib on Saylor and starts feeding her breakfast. When Steve is ready to go, he puts John in his high chair and gets out his pears and a bowl for his cereal. He leans down and kisses his babies and stops and pulls Catherine up for a good bye hug and kiss.
"Steve, I know everything is going to work out fine, don't worry, really. If the Governor doesn't agree, he doesn't deserve to have a man with your talent and principles running his task force. I love you and I am so proud of you." She gently strokes his face and smiles at Steve. She then runs her fingers through his hair and gives him one more kiss and smacks his butt as her leaves. "Call me and let me know how everything went, please. See you at noon." Steve leaves and goes to the office.
"Thanks, Cath, I'm really lucky to have you in my corner. I love you so much, you are everything to me." He walks out the back door and is on his way to the palace.
Five-0 Headquarters 7:15 am
Steve is the last to arrive for work. Chin, Kono, and I are all sitting at the conference table eating sweets. Kono knew today might not be a good day and stopped at the bakery and bought an assortment of goodies.
"Hey Boss, I bought your favorite sweets, want me to get you one?" Kono asks.
"No thanks, Kono. Cath made me a big breakfast and I don't have room for anything else. Kono, do you have plans for tonight? I want to take Cath out and spend the night at the Hilton and we could use Aunty Kono and Uncle Charlie to babysit."
"I'd love to Steve, finally. I've been asking Cath if you guys wanted a night off, and she kept telling me no. I started to think you guys didn't trust Aunty Kono…(she says with a smile.) I'll text Charlie and see if he made plans all ready. What time?
"I'll let you know after I make the reservations, we want to go out dancing too, so I have to find a place that we can do both. Hey Chin, Danny, how was your night?" Steve stops at the coffee machine and gets a cup of coffee.
"Hi Steve, fine. Malia was on call so we stayed around the house, but they never called her in. How's Cath and twins?"
"They are absolutely perfect. They are giggling now and it's so cute. How's Leilani? Is she sleeping through the night yet? Steve asks Chin.
"Not yet, but we hope soon. Her pediatrician says we're suppose to leave her in her crib to cry for at least ten minutes but after two, Malia is in there rocking her. What parent wants to let their child cry, when all they want to do is be held by their mommy or daddy?' Chin answers. Steve nods his head in agreement with Chin.
"Hey Steve, do you have time for lunch today?" I ask. Time is running out, I've got to talk to him.
"Can't today, Partner, would love to though. Cath is bringing the kids in to visit and then we are going to the diner before they have their check up. Something up, Danny?"
"It will keep, we can talk later." I say as I look down at my phone to see if I have any knew messages from family.
"Ok guys, let's get started. As you know, the Grand Jury report is being delivered to us and the Governor at 8:00 am today by messenger. This report is going to tell us if there is evidence to support any wrong doing on my part for the Sakai drug bust. I feel we did the right thing to ensure everyone's safety, but they might not see it that way. The DEA and Dennings were really pissed that the drugs were destroyed but that was not my main concern. Once the governor sees the report, he and I are going to meet to discuss it. If he feels I made any tactical errors, I will give him my resignation as the head of Five-0 and I would like to appoint Danny as Interim Leader of Five-0 until someone can be hired. I have the governor's word that he won't close down Five-0 because of my mistakes. We have done outstanding work over the last few years, and I really proud of what we have accomplished. I know the three of you will continue what we started, I trust all of you. 150%" Steve stops to take a sip of coffee and I start to talk.
"Steve, the three of us were talking, and none of us want to stay with Five-0 if you're not here. Kono and Chin would be fine going back to HPD and I told you that I would love to start a P.I. business with you as my partner. Just because we won't 'officially' be Five-0 we all can still do good things for this island." Danny grabs another malasadas and stuffs it in his mouth.
"Thanks Danny, but you shouldn't give up your shield to be a Jersey born Magnum P.I. I wouldn't feel right watching you give up the job you were born to do. Besides, I still am in the Navy and I could stay here at Pearl and train Seals and do my mandatory weekends, and three weeks until I reach my 25. As much as I don't want to give up Five-0, I still am responsible to finish my naval contract I am not going to go to active duty and be away from my wife and kids. Cath and I waited too long to have a family and I don't want to go back to active duty. Plus, I am not as young as I used to be, and it's time to let the younger boys take the lead." Steve tells his team.
Just as they are finishing their meeting, the messenger comes in and delivers the report to Steve. He passes out a copy to the team and they all sit at the conference table and read it. The room is deathly quiet and none of their faces have any sign of what they are thinking. After about 15 minutes, Steve starts to smile, then me, then Chin, and finally Kono. I am the first one to get up and go over to Steve.
"Congratulations, Partner, looks like you will be receiving an Accommodation from the Governor today, not your walking papers. Way to go, see you were worried for nothing. What time do you need to go see Dennings.?
"Not until 9:00, thanks Danno. I notice all three of you will also be receiving 'certificates of appreciation' for your part in the bust, and I'm not surprised. We are a good and strong team and I trust you guys immensely. I also have a gift for each other you. Steve passes out an envelope to each of his teammates. I've got time now do you want to talk?" Steve asked.
"Sure, it won't take too long, you shouldn't be late. Let's go in your office." We get up and walk into Steve's office and I sit down on the sofa and Steve sits behind his desk.
"What's up Danny, is everything all right, are Grace and Charles ok? Steve asks.
"Yeah, yeah, they're great. It's about my mom. You know she had a double mastectomy a few months ago and it looked like they got it all. Well, they didn't and she now has a form of leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant or else she'll only have 6-8 months left." I tell Steve, and wipe a tear from my eyes.
"Oh Danny, I'm so sorry, what can I do to help? If you need time off, you can take all the time you need, don't worry about using up vacation, I have over 8 weeks saved, and I'll have HR move some to you."
"Thanks Steve, but that's not what I need to ask you. Umm, ahh, you know I think of you as a brother, and since Matt left, I trust you more than anyone, and I don't know who else I can turn to." I say.
"Danny, you know you can ask me anything…..what do you need?" Steve leaves his chair and comes in front of his desk, and leans on it.
"Well, none of my sisters, nieces, nephews, or me are a match, so we had to find someone else." I stop and take a deep breath.
"Don't say it Danny, I'll be glad to help. Where is he and when do we leave?" Steve says as he sits next to me.
"How, what the hell, umm, how in the hell did you know it was Matt?" I ask with a questioned look on my face.
"Because Danny, I can read you, you say I have a 'face' well so do you. And you wouldn't have been that uncomfortable to ask me something if you weren't conflicted and knew laws would be broken. And you're worried that we could be arrested or killed, and after the whole Jenna thing, you feel guilty to even ask me. And you don't want me to leave Cath and the twins for the same reason. Did I miss anything ? And I five years in Naval Intelligence, I'm still that good" Steve looks at me and smiles.
"I can't believe I haven't slept for two weeks, not knowing how to ask you, or even if I should ask you. I don't know what to do Steve. If we get him in the country for the transplant, I would want him to turn himself in, but I couldn't do it because I promised my parents I wouldn't. Steve, she would rather die than have him come home to save her and go to jail. Isn't that crazy?" I say shaking my head.
"No it's not crazy Danno, I see where she's coming from. My kids are only six months old and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them, and after Grace got kidnapped I know the same goes for you. You told me you told Rick Peterson to do anything to you to keep Grace alive. We both would take a bullet for them, so look at it from her side of it." Steve tells me "She has had 60 good years and feels that if she has to die so her child isn't in prison and beaten or worse killed, she'll do whatever she feels is necessary. Ok, get all the info you have and when I get back, we'll make a plan and see what we need. I figure we are going to need some more man power. I know I can get some of my former Seal Team 6 guys and I have a few friends who do this kind of thing and are under the radar. We can't take Kono and Chin, but we can use them be our eyes and ears here and to watch over the airports, Homeland security, CIA and the FBI. Where is he right now?" Steve asks.
"Last we heard, he was in Chile and was driving up towards Mexico. He's keeping in touch with one of his high school friends who's keeping in touch with one of my sisters. I haven't put a bug on anyone's phone yet, and I don't think we should. I'm sure the SEC all ready has done that, so my best guess is to get all burners. But this is your area of expertise so whatever you say we do, we do." I tell my partner.
"Ok, Danny, get the latest location he was, and have Chin get burners like to ones we used for the smuggling OPs, put bugs on all the phones. I'll make some calls to my buddies and when I get back we will sit down and figure this out. How long before your mom needs the transplant? I need a time frame to work with." Steve asks.
"Once we know Matt is in Jersey and we can keep him in hiding, we need five days to get my mom admitted and kill all the cells or something, the doctors need to do to kill whatever is in her system. I was thinking not to have her transplant done in Jersey and get her to another hospital under an alias, so if the SEC and FBI are watching the house, we're at least safe to get her the transplant. She can do it in Philly or New York, which are only an hour from where she lives." I say.
"Ok, that's good thinking, but I think we're going to need four other hospitals close to your parents' house. Plus we are going to need all your sisters to wear grey wigs and glasses and we are going to use them as decoys, and we may need some of your mom's friends to set out the sting. Start working on that and when I get back, we'll talk more. And Danny, never, ever, be afraid to talk to me about anything, especially when family is concerned….you are my family, and you're my kids godfather, and there isn't anything you can't talk to me about. Please know that, and as for Cath, she feels the same way and knows how good I am at what I do and she won't let me stay home when family is sick. Your mom is family too. She's has been good to our kids when she was here when they were born, and she has sent them gifts and cards for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I didn't even know they made so many cards for kids. She loves them as if they were her blood and with my parents gone, she's a wonderful adopted Granny. Please promise me that you will never, ever lose sleep over talking to me about something. Can you do that, Danno?"
"Thank you Steve, I promise that." I tell him as he leaves for the Governor's office.
I go back to the conference table and ask Chin and Kono if I can talk to them in private in my office. They look at me with confused faces and I am worried about telling them. "Hey guys, thanks for coming in. I'm going to tell you and ask you something, but before I do, I don't want you to answer. Steve and I are going to leave and get my brother into the country to be a bone marrow donor for my mom. Her cancer is back with a rare form of leukemia as well, and this is the only way to give her a shot at more than six months. The chance of recovering is only 30% but that's better than nothing." I stop to take a breath.
"Hey Brah, whatever you need, you can count on me." Chin says.
"Same here, Danny, your mom is Ohana, so we're with you." Kono adds.
"I haven't even told you the plan, and how illegal is it, so how can you know you want to help?" I ask them.
"Danny, it doesn't matter, like Kono said, we are Ohana, which means your mom is too. We all know we have bent the rules over the years, and sometimes we've gotten caught, but we have to try Danny. You only get one mother." Chin says as he gets up and pats me on the back, as tears run down my cheeks. Kono gets up and gives me a hug.
"What's the plan?" Kono asks.
"First thing is we have to get burner phones for my whole family and us, and bug them. When Steve gets back we are going to map out the route and figure the fastest and safest way to get him to Jersey."
"Let me do the phones, Danny, how many in your family, six right?" Chin tells me.
"Yes, plus another for Matt that we will leave at one of his stops. Thanks Chin." I say.
"Why don't I get the bus and train schedules for the next two weeks, and when Steve gets back, we can talk about the route. I think the way I would go is by bus, train, then airlines and repeat. Why don't you contact Joe's friend Richard Detweiller and get a dozen or so fake ID's. We know he can be under the radar and that is who Steve would use." Kono suggests.
"Great thinking, Kono. I'll start on that. Thanks you guys, I can't tell you what it means to me and my family to have you in my corner. As much as I complain about moving to Hawaii, I wouldn't trade it for the world because you guys have my back like no one else ever has." I tell the team as they leave for their offices.
TBD