A/N: The first one was short, meant as sort of an introduction to the crux of the plot. Now, we're going to start getting into things. Let's see how it plays out. Hopefully what's in my head translates to the paper! And, I'll be re-introducing one of my favorite characters earlier than "expected". I think you'll probably be shocked at who that is… hehehehe.
Part Two
In hindsight, trying to track down Joe White probably hadn't been the most intelligent of ideas. The man was a ghost. And if anyone knew just how good of a ghost the man could be, it was Steve McGarrett.
He was no closer to solving any of his problems than he had been three weeks ago. Hiro Noshimuri was still missing, Wo Fat was lurking in the corners as always, and Joe White was out there with a good chunk of his answers.
Three weeks. He'd been away from Hawaii for three weeks and he would be returning with his tail between his legs. Joe had always been at least a half step ahead of him. That was always enough room for a SEAL to disappear.
The plane touched down with a relatively gentle shake, and Steve pulled out his cell phone and quickly punched in a speed dial code.
"Williams House of Pineapple." Steve raised an eyebrow at the sarcastic response.
"Well, that would be a change," he commented. Danny snorted a quick laugh.
"Ah, Super SEAL... finally, we're important enough to actually get a phone call. Three weeks, babe. You'd be amazed at what can change in three weeks."
"You say that like things have," he said. There was an uncharacteristic moment of silence.
"You'd be surprised." There was a serious tone in Danny's voice that put Steve on edge.
"Everyone okay?" he asked, his mind going quickly to Kono, Chin and Lori. Not for the first time did he regret not trying to stay in touch over the past few weeks.
"Oh sure, everyone's healthy and in one piece. Easy enough to do without you around, Trouble Magnet," Danny answered. Steve absorbed that for a moment as the plane finished taxiing and other passengers began to gather their things.
"But?" he prompted. There was one little, niggling worry at the back of his brain. Again, it took Danny a moment to respond.
"You'll be coming back to an interesting dynamic, that's for damn sure. Something went down between Chin & Kono, babe. Serious stuff. The only time I see them acknowledge each other is on the job, professional as ever," he said, voice quiet as if he didn't want to be heard. Which was probably the case.
"Did either of them say anything?" he asked. That little worry was now becoming a flashing neon warning sign. Danny scoffed.
"Are you kidding? Get anything other than everything's fine out of those two? I think it may require your more 'refined' interrogation skills. I've already tried bribery, alcohol, & Daddy Danny voice," his partner told him. Steve sighed. He remembered the last time he had to interrogate one of them. It was not a good memory…
"I just touched down at Honolulu International. I'll be to HQ in about 30 minutes," he said.
"You're back on the island? Well, gee, that was a fair amount of warning, buddy. I've had no time to alert the criminal element that Crazy is back in town. Or, you know, put together a Welcome Home party," Danny joked.
"I'm sure you've had your fair share of crazy," Steve said back, pulling his bag from the overhead compartment and following the other passengers to the exit.
"Ha! Surprisingly not. Or not-surprisingly, whichever. Things have mostly been run-of-the-mill. Some would say 'boring'. I don't say that, of course, but some would," his partner griped. Steve grinned.
"You can just say you missed me, you know," he joked.
"What's wrong with you, huh? I mean, didn't I just get done saying that life has been peaceful? Sedate even? How does that translate to I missed you? Just get your ass back here so I don't have to be Lori's only source of conversation, alright? With the Talkative Twins good moods as of late, she seems to find me a stunning conversationalist," he grumbled.
"But you are, Daniel," Steve said with a smirk. "Absolutely stunning…"
"I didn't miss you at all, jackass," Danny retorted. "Not one bit."
"Duly noted, buddy. And get out of my chair," Steve ordered. There was the distinct sound of feet hitting the ground.
"What? Why would you say that?" his partner sputtered. Steve chuckled.
"Just do it. And wipe the shoe prints off of the desk, too," he said before hanging up on Danny's annoyed response. Steve rubbed a hand over his face as he made his way off the plane.
Welcome back to Hawaii.
Kono sat at her desk twisting a paperclip into unrecognizable shapes. Well, mangling was probably a better word choice. Things had been uneasy lately with the group dynamic. And she knew that she and Chin played a major role in that. Along with their MIA leader. It was especially hard since things had been relatively quiet, the cases pretty much open and shut without a whole lot of legwork to distract from the obvious.
To say that she and Chin weren't talking would be a major understatement. Her current social life was to blame for it all, of course. Not that it was Chin's, or anyone's, business. If she'd known what it would turn into after she confirmed Chin's suspicion about Adam, she never would have said anything. Constant suspicion would have at least been tolerable to the constant anger and disappointment Chin seemed to be aiming at her.
Kono let out a sigh as she tossed the paperclip onto her desk and sat back in her chair. It felt like the whole undercover mess all over again, times ten. She never took Chin's anger and disappointment well. It's the price she paid for looking up to the guy since she could first walk.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Danny exited Steve's office. She could only smirk at the fact that Danny thought he'd get away with that little rearrangement.
"Hop to it, Wonder Woman! Caught a case…" he called out to her. She stood up.
"Really? I was beginning to think that crime had taken a vacation. Jersey, maybe?" she said with a teasing smile. He just made a face at her.
"Ha ha. Everyone's a comedian. Anyway… boss man is back in paradise. He's on his way here. But you need to go take a look at this B&E," Danny said, handing her the police report. She frowned, even as her breath caught at the thought of Steve being back. The group dynamic was about to get really interesting. But first things first…
"A simple breaking and entering? Really?" she asked. This was child's play. Or, HPD that is. Danny rolled his eyes.
"Look at the address," he said. She did, and scoffed.
"The Governor's neighborhood. Now it makes sense. Fine, I'll head over now," she said, going to head back to her desk to grab her badge and gun.
"Take Chin with you," Danny called after her, too much innocence in his voice to really pass as innocent. She only faltered slightly in her step before continuing on.
"Fine." She gave a thumbs up to the other man. Danny shook his head.
"'Fine', she says. Fine…" he grumbled.
"Problems?" Chin's voice came from behind him. He whirled around.
"Oh no. No problems. Just a routine B&E. You and Kono have fun," Danny told him. Chin's jaw tightened, but it was barely noticeable. But rather than say anything, he just nodded. Danny shook his head as he watched Chin go to his own desk.
"Crazy kids."
"I heard that," Kono said as she clipped her gun to her belt.
"I don't care. Just go… get outta my hair," Danny told her, waving his hands toward the door. She smirked at him.
"Yes, get out of your perfectly coifed hair," she teased. Danny's eyes widened at her.
"Oh, you're making jokes still? I'll have you know that my hair hasn't been perfectly coifed since McGarrett left. Mostly because of you two," he said, pointing to her and the approaching Chin. "Seriously. If you two don't do your cousin-y hug thing and make up, you're going to make me a bald man."
"I'd not make up just for that fact alone," Kono quipped. Danny gave her a look just as Chin let out a chuckle. Kono looked over at him and he sobered immediately. Danny just raised an eyebrow.
"Progress," he said. "At my expense, but it's still progress."
The car ride was silent. Not that she'd expected any different. And for two people who could talk about anything with each other- or used to – it was quite painful.
"How's Malia?" She bit first. She really wanted to know, anyway. Chin's hand tightened on the steering wheel.
"Fine." The answer was given like he was chewing glass. Kono sighed. She was done being angry. But the reverse was very obviously not even close to being true.
"Look, Chin… if you want to hate me, fine. I can deal with that." Those words felt like glass in her mouth, but she swallowed anyway. "I'll talk to McGarrett when he gets back. Let him know to keep us off the partner roster. Or… I'll look into a transfer."
There was silence and when Kono looked over to her cousin she saw the pained look. "No. No, don't. I don't hate you, Kono," he said. "I just… I just don't understand you anymore. I don't think I have for a while now."
"I haven't changed, cousin," Kono told him, her own jaw tight. Chin looked sharply at her.
"You have. I blame Fryer for most of it, but yes, you have. And now… this…" he spat the last word out as if it was rancid. Kono sighed again. It was a loaded sentence, not even scratching the surface of what truly bothered him, and there was only so much she could defuse effectively. She'd start with the 'this'.
"Adam and I…" she started.
"Noshimuri is not the type of person you should be talking to, Kono!" he gritted out. She let out an angry laugh.
"Talking? Is that the new euphemism for 'sleeping with'? Or are you just purposefully being naïve?" she goaded. If this was going to be a fight, why not go all the way?
His dark eyes were fiery when the snapped over to look at her. "What are you thinking, Kono?!"
What are you thinking, Kono?
Oh, she'd heard that one before, just not from Chin.
I can't.
This whole situation warranted almost the same response to Chin's emotional, unspoken plea.
"I'm thinking that I'm enjoying the company of a nice, good-looking, successful man who likes me," she said with a nonchalant shrug. Chin's glower deepened.
"Nice? Adam Noshimuri is not a nice man. Yakuza, Kono! He is the heir – and most likely the new head – of the goddamn Yakuza!" he slammed his free hand to the steering wheel. Calm Chin had left the building and booked a flight off the island apparently.
"You forget that he has been running the family's legitimate business in New York for the last eight years," Kono gritted out.
"And why do you think he's suddenly in Hawaii, Kono? Think about it! His father is missing. They have no legitimate business in Hawaii that doesn't have some draw in to the Yakuza…" He let her put two and two together.
"I'm a grown woman, Chin. I can make decisions that don't need approval from you," she said with a dismissing sniff, looking out the window as they pulled up to their destination.
"That's your fallback when you don't have a logical argument, Kono," Chin warned. She shrugged as she opened the door and got out.
"But you can't say it isn't true," she retorted. He let out a small growl of frustration as he, too, got out of the vehicle. That growl turned into a deep frown as he saw who was waiting for them.
"Well, well, well… Hawaii Five-0…"
"You're like a goddamn bad penny," Chin growled. Their welcome wagon just looked amused.
"Someone took your muzzle off, Kelly. Kono, maybe you should try to find that for him?" came the sarcastic response. Kono shook her head.
"Not a good time, Captain Fryer. Perhaps you should both muzzle it?" she told him. He just raised an eyebrow at her, looking even more amused.
"What's Five-0 doing slumming it? Isn't this a little below your league?" he asked. Kono smiled.
"Can say the same for you, can't we?" she asked. Fryer chuckled.
"Touché."
"Slow day," she shrugged. Fryer nodded, a knowing smirk in place.
"Helps it's the high rent district, too, of course," he said, indicating the Governor's mansion just down the street.
"You two done playing nice?" Chin asked, still holding a less-than-minor grudge over the whole UC operation. "We have work to do…"
"Keep your pants on, Lieutenant," the other man said. "I've got two uniforms inside and two more on the perimeter. They've cleared the scene."
"We should…" Chin started, but was cut off as a gunshot rang out. All three drew their weapons and started in towards the house.
"It came from the back yard," Kono said. Chin nodded towards her and she started winding her way around the landscaping, keeping her gun up and eyeing the covering vegetation for hidden suspects. Chin and Fryer kept to her back, following her around the side of the house. Chin gently tapped her on the shoulder letting her know her back was clear. She peeked around the corner and could see a person standing there, back to her. It looked to be an HPD officer, gun in hand. Kono couldn't see anyone else so she slowly stepped around the corner. She raised her gun up higher and slowly inched closer.
"Put your weapon down, Officer. I need to see your hands," she called out, aware that if he startled he could turn and shoot first.
"Kono, there's a body," Chin's voice alerted her. She glanced off of the office for a moment and there was a body in front of him.
"He was going to kill me," the officer mumbled in disbelief, eyes trained on the body in shock. It took him a moment, but he finally held up his hands. Chin moved in quickly, to retrieve the weapon. Fryer came in behind Kono as she approached the fallen officer.
Chin called in an officer down and she leaned down to try and catch a pulse. There wasn't one.
"He's not one of mine," Fryer said. She looked up at him and he had a confused frown on his face, gun still trained on the body.
"What?" she asked. He shook his head.
"That is not a responding officer. I sent Reyes and Morgan on the perimeter. Reyes is the shooter… that is not Morgan…"
Kono stood and raised her weapon. "We've got a problem then. This scene isn't secure…"
Chin relayed the information quickly over the phone before hanging up and raising his own weapon.
"Go. I've got you covered here." Kono nodded and indicated for Fryer to lead the way. He quickly headed over to the open patio door. Scanning the entry quickly, he went in for the left. Kono immediately followed taking the right.
"Clear," Fryer said softly. "Head towards the hallway, I've got your back." Kono nodded as she followed the room around towards where the bedrooms were. She cleared the corner and started down the hallway. There were three bedrooms and a bathroom. Kono indicated she would take the rooms on the left. Fryer nodded and went towards the first on the right.
Kono stepped into the first room. Not a thing was out of place… the only problem was, a dead officer lay just beyond the bed. His throat was slit. She swallowed hard before quickly clearing under the bed and the closet. As she exited the room she caught Fryer's eye. She shook her head and motioned she'd found one officer. He let out a deep breath before nodding to the other two rooms.
Kono found the bathroom clear. She quietly entered the room Fryer was in, lowering her gun as she watched him standing over the bodies of two more officers. All she could think for the moment was that these men had died while they'd all stood outside.
"FIVE-0" a shout came from outside of the room, startling the two of them. It was Steve's voice.
"It's clear!" Kono called back. "We're back here…" Heavy footfalls preceded Steve and Danny's arrival.
"What the hell…" Danny exclaimed as he saw the fallen officers. Steve's eyes caught on Kono's.
"You okay?" he asked. She nodded.
"Chin?" Kono asked back.
"Out back with Lori," he said. She nodded once before holstering her gun. The guys did the same.
"Captain Fryer. Long time, no see," Steve greeted without much fanfare, staring at the other man.
"McGarrett," the other man acknowledged.
"Oh good. The gang's all back together again. Bring on the bad mojo," Danny grumbled.
"What the hell happened here?" Steve asked, looking to Fryer and Kono.
"This was not a simple B&E," Fryer said. Danny scoffed.
"No shit, Sherlock," he spit out before he could censor himself. Steve threw him a look and he just shrugged.
"It wasn't a B&E," Fryer repeated with a glare at Danny. "It was a trap."
Kono swallowed hard as she looked at the two officers again. "A trap for who?"
Fryer shook his head. "I don't know."
To be continued…
A/N: Well? How was that? I worked hard on that one to get it out for you all ASAP. :)
