Chapter Three "Finding Out"

Danny didn't say anything for a long time. He wasn't sure whether or not Steve were being literal when he said "little brother." Either way, something seemed to be bothering the usually stoic SEAL.

"You have a brother?" Danny said slowly.

Steve nodded. "His name's Johnny," he said. "He's the youngest, 29."

"Is there some reason you're mentioning him now?"

"Yeah. I told you about Alana Iona. She was his best friend when they were kids. He's come back to stay with her until... well, I don't know, actually."

"So, why do you seem so miserable about this?"

Steve hesitated in answering and Danny noticed his discomfort grow.

"Johnny does his best to avoid talking to me. And he basically just told me he never wants to see me again."

Danny was surprised and he could feel the hurt in Steve's words. Something very bad had happened in that family and Steve was beginning to make more sense to Danny with every piece of that trauma that was revealed.

And worse, if possible, Danny didn't know what to do for his friend. He was hurt that Steve had never told him about this, but that hardly seemed important now.

"When was the last time you talked to him?" Danny asked, trying to get a better idea of the relationship up to the present.

"Dad's funeral," Steve answered quickly. "Before that... A few years, no, it was six years. The last Christmas disaster before Dad decided not to bother anymore."

"So... he doesn't know about your mother's murder or Wo Fat..."

Steve looked as if it were the first time he realized that. "I guess not," he said. "I know he doesn't speak to Mary, so how would he know?"

"You gonna tell him?" Danny asked.

Steve sighed. "I should, but how is the question. I don't want to make things worse."

"I think this is just about rock-bottom, babe."

"No, he could beat me to death with his guitars."

Danny nodded in all seriousness. "I'll come with you."

Steve looked like he was going to refuse. Instead he nodded, looking at the floor. "Thanks man," he said.

H-5-O

Steve blinked as the sun hit his eyes. He wasn't in his bed and that instantly made him nervous. That is, until he saw the little girl standing in front of him.

"Why are you sleeping on our couch, Uncle Steve?" Grace asked.

Steve sat up. "Well," he said in a sleepy voice. "I needed to talk to Danno last night, and I was really tired, so I fell asleep here. Is that okay?"

Grace smiled. "Yeah," she said. "I love it when you stay with us. You make good eggs."

"No," Steve disagreed. "Danno just makes terrible eggs, so everything else seems good in comparison."

"Well... will you make them anyway?"

Steve grinned at the little girl. "Sure I will."

He got up and moved toward the kitchen where Danny was mixing pancakes and Rachel was making coffee.

"Are you telling lies to my little girl?" Danny asked, not turning away from the stove.

"No lies," Steve said. "Just hard truth."

"Please," Rachel said. "She is only ten."

"I'm almost eleven," Grace argued. "And Uncle Steve never says anything bad. Just that Danno's eggs are icky."

"Icky, Steven?" Danny turned to look Steve in the eye.

"I believe I said 'terrible'," Steve said. "Anyway, I'm sorry to impose on you like this."

Rachel waved her hand. "It's nothing," she said. "I'm sorry you had to sleep on that couch. I believe there was supposed to be a guest room..."

Danny gestured dramatically. "I said I would finish it when I had a break from work," he said. "since that hasn't happened in... a hundred years, I haven't done it. Steve, what are you doing this weekend?"

Steve shrugged. "Helping you finish the guest room?"

"Exactly. There. Problem solved."

Rachel smiled. "I'm glad that's settled. Did you need this." She handed Steve a skillet and he smiled back at her.

"Yes, thank you," he said and then winked at Grace.

Steve was getting used to the time he spent with this family, and he hated that it wasn't real. Danny wasn't his brother and eventually he wouldn't need Steve anymore, and then Steve would be on his own again. He would claim that was how he liked it, but it was a lie. He had never enjoyed that life.

Ever since his father sent him away, Steve had felt empty. He could only imagine how Johnny felt and how that led to the rejection Steve now faced.

H-5-O

After several days and not another word on Johnny McGarrett, Danny decided to do some digging. He felt horrible about it, but nothing seemed to make Steve feel better after that day, even though he put on a brave face.

It wasn't that hard to find out more. Danny discovered that Johnny had been living in Portland, Oregon, and he was a musician. He went by the name JJ Sidney when he performed, which Danny thought was an interesting and useful piece of information.

Johnny's legal name was John Sidney McGarrett Jr. Danny was surprised that he had been named after his father, being the second son. He knew Steve was named after their grandfather too.

All this was superficial information in Danny's eyes. He wanted to know more of what kind of person Johnny was. The only way to know that was to meet him.

This was a tricky operation because Danny didn't want Steve to know what he was doing. But it was easier than it should have been with how distant Steve was being. Danny found an opportunity to slip out one afternoon and head over to the bar where Johnny was performing that evening.

It didn't take long for Danny to find the place and there was a rental car out front. He allowed himself a brief moment of congratulations before getting out of the car and going inside.

It was dark in the bar after the bright sunshine outside and there was only one man behind the counter.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"Yeah," Danny said. "I'm looking for JJ Sidney."

"You know him?"

"I'm a friend of a friend. He here?"

The man nodded. "He's in back. Go ahead." He nodded to a door labeled "Employees Only."

"Thanks," Danny said and headed for the door.

There was a short hallway and then what looked like a storage room. There was a man with his back turned to Danny putting away some equipment, and Danny knew this was Johnny McGarrett. He stood a little like Steve and he had the same movements.

"Johnny McGarrett," Danny said.

He turned around looking surprised. "Do I know you?" he asked. His voice even sounded a little like Steve's.

"No," Danny said, shaking his head. "I'm Detective Danny Williams."

Something like recognition crossed Johnny's face. "Did something happen to..."

"No. Steve's fine. I'm his partner. But there's something you need to know."

"What? Did Steve send you?"

"No. He doesn't know I'm here. He wanted to tell you himself, but he was afraid of making things worse."

"Yeah. Typical. What is it he wants me to know?"

"He needs to tell you himself, but it didn't look like that was going to happen the way things were going."

Danny watched Johnny's eyes narrow and his mouth set in a firm line. He saw so many familiar quirks in this still unfamiliar face. Johnny's eyes were brown and he wore a short beard; he was smaller than Steve and his face was a little different in shape, but he still looked so much like his brother.

"So, why are you here?" Johnny finally asked. "Trying to give it a little push in the right direction or something?"

"Something like that." Danny shrugged. "I happen to believe that brothers who haven't stolen money from drug dealers should speak to one another. You want to know more, you talk to Steve."

"I see." Johnny nodded. "So you're trying to fix things for your friend."

"I don't know about that, but I'd hate to see you give up when you might like the changes you find."

Johnny looked Danny over, as if evaluating him. "Steve told me about you. Said you hit him the first day you met."

"That would be correct. He got me shot and several other things. He deserved it."

"So, what's this big change everyone keeps talking about?"

"Well, I credit my positive influence that Steve McGarrett is in fact human now. Of course, that renders him vulnerable to the effects of rejection and familial hostility."

"You're for real aren't you?"

"I know; it's hard to believe. So, are you coming or not?"

"Coming?"

"You know, back to HQ with me so you can talk to your brother and work all this out."

"I don't think anything will be worked out from a ten minute chat."

"Well, he's the boss; he can take the day off." Danny turned and walked back down the hallway, praying Johnny would follow him.