First of all: THANK YOU for all the reviews and follows, the response has blown me away. I hope I can do justice to your expectations.

Second, because it came up in some of the reviews: I'm sorry, but I'm not planning on giving Steve his sight back. I'm just not a fan of "miracle cures" that seem to happen all the time in tv shows / books etc. Ok, I don't really know yet where the plot bunnies will take this story, but just as a fair warning: it's extremely unlikely. I hope you're gonna stick with this nevertheless.

And third: my 'inspiration' to start this, because this story is just too good to not share it. Here's a link to an article (in English) about a mugger picking the wrong 'helpless victim'. This happened a few years back, and I actually laughed out loud when I read it: www. spiegel. de/international/zeitgeist/the-wrong-victim-mugger -targets-blind-judo-champion-a-504854. html (just take the spaces after the full stops/periods out of the address, ff won't let me post a 'proper' link)

Danny was disappointed. He really had hoped to see McGarrett the next day at HPD. But then an 18 year old kid had decided that he wanted to impress his Yakuza bosses by challenging the local drug cartel, and Danny had had to go and pick up the pieces. 3 pieces, to be exact. One hand, one head, and the rest of the body. While Danny was working the crime scene his partner Chin Ho Kelly had gone to try and appease the bosses. The last thing they needed was a full-blown drug war.

When Danny had returned to his desk later he had found a written statement of yesterday's events at the bus station, taken by one of the Sergeants and signed by Lieutenant Commander Steven McGarrett. Blast!

Danny had spent the better part of an hour the night before debating with himself whether or not he should try things with McGarrett. „Things" as in 'ask him out for a beer and take it from there. But would that really be a good idea? First of all he didn't know if McGarrett would at all be interested. And what were the chances for that? A gay Navy Lieutenant Commander? Really? Statistically there had to be some, but what were the chances that he, Danny, met one? And if things worked out: would the 'blind' thing matter? Logically it shouldn't, but still: would it?

OK, time to stop it, he had told himself. He had started planning out things way before he even had made the first step. A complete waste of time.

Danny had sat down on his sofa. It wasn't as complicated as his brain had tried to convince him of. He liked the man (even though he was annoyingly stubborn), the guy was hot, and he wanted to get to know him better, and as far as he could tell for now, he had no problem with McGarrett not being able to see. The only possible outcome then had to be this: ask him out for a drink the next time you meet him.

And now this. Danny sulked. Fate was a bitch, chances of him seeing McGarrett again seemed to be slim at best. maybe he could ask Kono...? Or better not...

„Hey, Meka?" he called to a Sergeant, the one who had signed the statement next to McGarrett.

„Yeah?"

„The statement you took from McGarrett..."

„Who?"

„The blind guy? You know, the assault at Honolulu central bus depot?"

Meka laughed. „Oh, yeah. Best report I've written in ages. 'Robber chooses wrong victim, gets overpowered by blind ex-Navy SEAL." He had a wide grin on his face.

„He's a Navy SEAL?" Danny marvelled.

„He didn't tell you?"

„We never got round to that. He just said he's stationed at Pearl Harbour-Hickam, didn't ask for more info."

„Well, here you have it then: he's been a SEAL. Surprised?"

Not really, Danny thought. That certainly explains the man's combat skills. Christ, that Kalili guy was probably lucky he didn't get seriously hurt." What he says though is "a bit maybe. Anyway: is it all wrapped up? You got a complete statement? "

"It's all there, yes. And I think the guy who attacked him by now has signed a confession."

So no reason for McGarrett to come by again. Or for Danny to pay him a visit. Damn. He was more disappointed than he really liked to admit to himself. He didn't have time to ponder on that feeling, since his partner Chin used that moment to make his entrance, carrying the ME's preliminary report on the dead kid.

"ME confirmed the obvious. The kid was killed by a gunshot wound to the head. And thankfully the hand and the head were cut off post-mortem."

"Thank God for small mercies" Danny muttered. "Anything on the gun?"

"A .38 calibre. We got the shell casing, with some lovely markings on it, so if we find a gun to compare it to, it will make nice evidence.

The case kept Danny and Chin busy for the next week and consumed pretty much all of their time. Danny didn't even make it to Grace's surfing lesson, for which he promised he would hold the killer personally responsible. Then on Thursday Chin and he finally found a key witness and were able to arrest a suspect. Danny breathed a sigh of relief, and filed the last report he needed before handing the case over to the DA's office.

"Yo, Danny!" Chin called. Danny turned around to see his partner come down the stairs towards his desk. "Malia and I are doing a house-warming party this weekend. A small luau for some family and friends this tomorrow. You wanna come?"

"A luau? That's a traditional Hawaiian dinner, right?"

"I'm afraid we'll give the kalua pig a miss, but yes, basically it's family, friends, food and drinks, and my brother promised some fireworks later in the evening."

Although he'd been on the island for nearly 3 months now, Danny knew virtually nobody, apart from his his daughter, his ex-wife, her new husband Stan, his colleagues and his elderly neighbour Mrs Leland, whom he helped carrying her groceries on his second day. She's looked in on him once or twice a week ever since. So this invitation came as a welcome diversion from his "a beer and a movie" or "a book and a beer" nights. Also he wouldn't have Grace again until next Wednesday, so he was free anyway.

"Yeah, I'd love to come. Only if you want to have me there, of course."

"I wouldn't have asked otherwise, brah." Chin answered, smiling.

"So what do I bring?"

"Just a few beers will be fine. Malia already delegated food duties amongst her cousins. We'll have enough to feed an army, as always. So make sure you don't eat anything after breakfast." He grinned. "Dinner will be around 7, but experience says that most people will start showing up from 5."

"Fantastic. I'll be there," Danny smiled. Five minutes later he was out of the office and on his way home.

Steve was up early on Saturday. He had never been a late riser, not since his Navy days anyway, where he had rarely ever gotten to sleep past 6 AM. Ever since he was back home, he had acquired a slightly new morning routine. First a small breakfast, fresh fruit and cereals, then he would make his way to the pool and swim 3000 yards, then he either went off to work or do whatever else he had planned. Today was a day for "whatever else". Kono was going to pick him up for Chin and Malia's luau, which he was looking forward to a lot. The couple had moved into their new house in Pearl City two weeks ago, but Steve hadn't been there to visit yet. Kono had raved about it though, describing it vividly and enthusing about the stunning view over Ewa Forest Reserve, which was pretty much in their back yard.

"It's amazing," she had said. "It's so close to the city, Chin and Malia will be able to get to work in no time, but still very quiet and relaxed. Not a bit of the city's hustle, just birds singing and an amazing view. And they have a huge back garden, much better than at Chin's last place!"

"So he will finally be able to hold his luaus at his place, instead of occupying mine all the time?" Steve grinned.

"Definitely, brah. Though you're not off the hook completely, you know that, right? You're still the one of us with the private beach."

"As if you would stop coming over even if I asked you to. You never did that before, you won't do it now." Not that Steve minded. He loved having his friends around him. He had spent over 10 years in the Navy, and he had had some good friends there, but these were the people he had know for most of his life now. Chin had been at his High School. They hadn't had much contact back then – Steve had been 3 years below Chin and had mostly admired the star quarterback from a distance, and Chin had hardly noticed the younger boy all – but later when Chin had been a young cop just out of the academy, Steve's dad had been his training officer. They had often met at the barbecues his dad held, and finally started to go surfing together. And when Steve's mum had been killed and his dad sent him away, Chin was one of the few friends who held the contact. It had helped the homesick boy a lot. And then a year ago, when Steve had come back home wounded, with his dad murdered only weeks before, Chin and his family had been there for him all the way. They had visited him at Tripler, brought news from the island or listened on the rare occasions when he wanted to talk, and had helped him to settle back into island life in general, and to adjust to his life as a blind man in specific, helping out when he needed help and staying back when didn't want it. The least Steve felt he could do was throw a party for his ohana every now and then.

Kono picked him up shortly after lunchtime. And – a bit strange, Steve thought – she had insisted on him changing his clothes before they'd go. He had been in his usual casual party attire of board shorts and one of his Naval Academy t-shirts. Kono had insisted that the shirt was just too faded and surely he didn't want to look like a hobo when meeting his friends. Steve was pretty sure that he wouldn't stick out among the people he expected to be there. This was a luau after all, not the Governor's Winter Ball. His reasoning had fallen on deaf ears though, Kono had steadfastly refused to take him "the way he looked", and could he please put on some cargo pants and something other on his feet than slippers?

At this point Steve had become deeply suspicious. "You're not telling me that another of Malia's cousins will be there, right? I swear to you, Kono, it it's Anna, I'm staying home..."

Anna was one of Malia's third-grade cousins, and in an ill-fated attempt to "find someone for Steve" had been invited to a party about half a year ago. It had ended in a disaster, when Steve – after being babied by the woman all night, she had even wanted for him to "see" her face with his hands, and what was that if not weird if you hardly knew a person? – had decided to end it before things had really started. He had told her in no uncertain words that he was sure that she was a nice enough woman, but that he really didn't think the two of them could make things work. Anna had cried for the rest of the evening, which had more or less ruined the night for everyone else.

"God, no!" Kono exclaimed. "I think Malia has given up on inviting her to anything where single men might be around. Too much danger of another flash-flood... I just thought you might want to look good for tonight. It is kind of a special occasion for Chin and Malia, after all."

"I am not sure that I should believe you... but I get your point," he gestured towards the closet. "There should be a light blue shirt in there that might find your approval."

Kono jumped at the chance. Steve's closet was – as were all his things around the house – neatly organised. The right hand side was reserved for his various Navy uniforms, dress blues etc., next to it the shirts and t-shirts were roughly arranged by colour. She found what she had been looking for on the far left side.

"Perfect." She smiled at her work when Steve had put on the shirt over his t-shirt. Not the old Navy tee of course, but a well fitted plain white one that Kono had chosen, and which showed off his abs nicely. "Now about the shoes..."

"Give it up, Kono. I'm wearing slippers or I won't come." Steve threatened.

She sighed and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her right ear. "OK, OK. Was worth a try though. You got everything you need?"

Steve asked her to get the bottle of red wine from the kitchen that he had bought as a house-warming gift, then grabbed his cane from the coat hanger and waited for her outside the front door.

Traffic was bad, and it took them almost an hour to get to Chin's place in Kono's bright yellow pick-up truck. They still arrived 2 hours before everybody else was expected, which was what Chin, Kono and Steve had agreed on. This way Chin would have time to give Steve the 'grand tour' through the house and garden, and while it probably wouldn't be enough for him to get by completely on his own for the evening, he'd have a good enough idea of his surroundings to get along.

"Hey, brah, howzit?" Chin greeted Steve when he got out of the car. Steve held his fist out in front of him, and Chin bumped into it as a way of greeting. He smiled, a warm smile that made his whole face light up and which Steve could hear clearly in his voice. "Glad you could make it. I hope Joe didn't give you too much of a hard time for taking half a day off of training?"

"You kidding? He nearly made me promise to swim twice my usual distance tomorrow. I took me an hour to convince him that even the most professional athletes are entitled to half a day off every now and then."

"Sounds like today's going to be the last bit of fun you're allowed to have for the next 10 months. Better make the most of it then."

"I'm certainly going to try. And here, I think this," he handed the wine bottle over, "might help with it. Congratulations on the new house."

Chin glanced at the label appreciatively. "A Twomey 2007 Napa Valley Merlot? Wow, good choice, Steve. Thank you."

„You know you'll have to thank the wine dealer, I have no idea how to distinguish the good stuff from the bad. I prefer a good beer any day, but I'm glad you like this. So, ready to show off your new residence?"

„Aye, aye, Commander," Chin mock-saluted, then turned to Kono. „Better check on Malia, I think she needed help with your mum's coconut cake recipe." Kono started walking over to the front door. „I hope you can salvage the wreckage I saw earlier," Chin called after her, then put his arm into Steve's waiting outstretched hand. „Did I tell you how much I love this house? Best thing that could have happened to Malia and me. Perfect for the two of us and maybe one or two little ones in a few years. I guess you've already noticed how quiet it is around here, that's cause it's residential area only. Means of course we'll have to drive a few minutes to do our shopping, but I really don't mind. After all in exchange we have Ewa Forest Reserve right at our back door. I mean it. There's even a small footpath the former owner used to get into the reserve. Only takes about 5 minutes to get there."

While Chin talked the two of them had walked around the house and were now standing in the back yard. „Let me show you the lanai first," Chin said, leading Steve up two wooden stairs. „OK, we're at the back of the house now, the lanai's abou metres. Directly left of us – right when you come out of the house - is a table with four chairs. That's where we'll set up the food trays later tonight, by the way." Steve let go of Chin's arm and walked to his left a step, until his cane touched the base of the railing.

"This about right?" He asked Chin.

"Pretty much. The first chair is about two more steps away." Chin watched as Steve felt his way forward. It still pained him to see his old friend this way, but then the pain often enough was replaced by his admiration at how Steve had handled everything, and for a while now a feeling of 'normality' had settled in. Sometimes he thought that Steve had to be pretty much the cliché of the wounded war hero claiming back his life. And maybe that was true. Steve had been out of Afghanistan for 2 weeks and had been at Tripler for 3 days when Chin had visited him for the first time, and by then he had already been back on his feet, exploring the hospital corridors and making his way out into the gardens. He'd insisted that if this was to be his new life, then he might as well start it now and not wait until someone else helped him live it.
But of course there had been setbacks and bad days as well, from spilled drinks and miscalculated doorways to Steve getting lost in a neighbourhood he had known all his life. Steve was no superhero. But he was proud, he was clever, and he was determined. So for the first 6 months after coming back to O'ahu he had put almost all of his energy into learning the blind skills he needed. Now that he had those internalised, he had changed the direction of his determination towards his swim training. Chin had no doubt that his friend would become the best paralympic swimmer he could be. He feared for the day when Steve ran out of goals and fell into an emotional black hole, though. His doctors always had said that would happen, but it hadn't so far. Chin still wasn't sure if that was because Steve kept himself busy or if he really was that emotionally stable. He guessed he would find out eventually, and – if needed – pick up the pieces.

"I like this carving. Those chairs are new, right?" Steve's voice pulled Chin out of his thoughts. "What is it? A turtle?" He ran his left hand along the back of one of the chairs, fingers lightly touching the carved animal on top of it.

"Yeah, Malia wanted something other than the plastic chairs we had before. She found these at a small cabinet-maker's in Waimea. They're teak, perfect for the Hawaiian weather."

Steve nodded, continuing his way around the lanai, until he reached the stairs – and Chin – again, getting a feeling for the dimensions of the place. "How about the garden?" He held out his hand for Chin again.

"I'm afraid we're going to change the set-up there a little bit later – add chairs and tables, Akoni will man the BBQ, the usual. But I guess I should show you the way to the pool."

"To make sure I don't accidentally drown during the luau?" Steve grinned.

"I don't see any scenario where you would drown, brah, but you don't have a change of clothes, mine won't fit you, and Kono's going to kill me if you drip over her car seats. Or maybe you'll just be in the mood for a swim? With you one never knows, so better to be prepared." He led Steve down the stairs again. "Directly in front of us and to the left is the lawn. Just one obstacle, a palm tree pretty much in the centre of it." They walk to the fence at the back.

"Do I smell guavas?"

Chin sighs. "Yeah. The only downside of this place. Those things are like a pest around here. I guess I'll have to cut them back regularly or in a year or so we won't have a back yard any more."

"Well, at least there's always fresh fruit available."

"Yeah, cause that's such a problem in Hawai'i usually..." Chin's voice dripped with sarcasm as he rolled his eyes.

Half an hour later, when Steve was pretty sure that he'd got the basic layout of house and garden down and would be able to get along without hurting himself or others, they headed over to the kitchen for a beer. Malia popped her head in. "Hi, Steve," she greeted, then turned towards her husband. "If you're done, can you please help Akoni set up the tables? The first guests will arrive soon and I'd rather have everything prepared by then."

...guess who's coming for dinner *g*