A/N: Thanks for the great reviews! Sorry this chapter is a bit short but it wouldn't nicely divide up any other way! Oh Danno our dearest Danno...this had to be done.

Friday rolled around and Danny was much recovered. He had chosen to take the day off and resume work on Monday instead making it an even week off. He was still feeling pretty drained. He turned his attention to McGarrett's house. He'd felt the least he could do to repay the man, begrudging to admit that he'd needed it, for helping, was clean up the house a little among a few other things. He knew Steve had missed out on a date with Catherine because he was taking care of him. He knew they were trying for another date tonight to kick off her weekend of leave time. Steve had mentioned something about a paddleboarding excursion at sunset followed by a romantic dinner. Thinking about this struck Daniel with an idea and he pulled out his phone.

Don't worry about dinner after your date. I'll have something for you and Cath.

You're making us dinner for our date? Are you delirious?

No jerk. I'm making sure you don't screw things up with Catherine. I'm obviously not going to manage a happy marriage so I'm making damn sure you and Cath do. For Gracie. She needs to know what a good relationship looks like

If anyone's going to mess things up with me and Cat it's going to be you. I mean you were a complete failure with your own marriage. And who says I'm marrying Cat?

I do.

Hahahahaha

Animal

I don't suppose I get a choice in whether I'm marrying her?

No you schmuck. I'll have dinner ready by 8.

Love you Danno.

Hate you.

Danny tossed the phone again shaking his head. He stood thinking, the house once again sparkling, then sniffed his pits and gagged. Decision made. The next order of business was a hot shower with extra soap before he started dinner. He lingered under the hot spray longer than he'd intended but it seemed to melt away the last of his aches and he loved the almost painful sizzle the hot water left on his skin. He felt fantastic by the time he was hopping down the stairs. He had meant it about making sure Super Seal didn't screw things up with Catherine. Grace didn't have a single example to observe and follow as a proper healthy romance. She was getting old enough for it to matter soon. He was already hearing her ask questions that skirted dangerously close to the horrific idea of dating. Daniel shuddered as he pulled out the ingredients from the fridge and began chopping and frying. He was no Iron Chef but after so many lonely weeks and weekends on his own he could whip up a real good meal and a half decent dessert when he set his mind to it. Steaks on the grill, he was slicing fresh strawberries and dipping them in alternate whip cream and chocolate for dessert, or other things, when he heard the front door. He was scrambling to finish the last few strawberries when fire tore through his chest, oxygen rushing from his lungs. His knees shook as he pivoted, gripping the counter white knuckles.

"Wha? Who're...you?" He rasped and coughed feeling a sticky thick liquid spraying from his lips as the tall lanky man he didn't know stood before him, bloody knife in hand.

"I didn't want to do this but you left me no choice." He hissed, expression darkened and dangerous, voice oily like a snake. He shoved Danny hard sending him crashing to the ground flat on his back. Danny struggled onto his elbows dragging himself backwards in a feeble retreat gaining a few feet and fishing in his pocket for his phone. The man sauntered unconcerned after him, foot slamming down onto his wrist pinning it, then plunged the knife powerfully through the phone. Danny pawed at the knife but the man buried a hand in his hair and smashed his head twice against the floor. Danny went still his vision darkening from the blows and the blood loss, gravity crushing him to the floor. "This is all your fault."

"Nnngh.." Danny tried to call for help only to choke and cough again. He felt the man climb over him, kneeling to sit on his hips twirling a new knife. The Jersey man squirmed under him trying to escape but the first wound and the ensuing concussion left him weak. The man leaned in once again entwining his fingers through his now blood slicked hair pressing him firmly to the floor and aimed the knife.

"You deserve this." He sneered piercing the blade deep into his flesh tortuously slow to extend the agony of his victim. He relished in his strained cry, a twinge of desperation of the man as he mauled him slowly, precisely with the blade, making every stab count. Danny panicked, having lost count of the wounds, as the pain mounted and his body grew heavy. The world was spinning and falling. He was being crushed and gutted helpless to buck off his attacker. He tried calling for help. Praying the neighbors would hear but any attempt earned a bash of the head to the hard floor beneath. He gasped for air but he just couldn't get any as the knife punctured him again and again stealing his breath. All consuming weakness flooded him in a rush, his body too heavy to move even a finger now, and his vision darkened.