Author's note- What do you think of the quotes? Like them? Hate them? I got a wonderful book of quotes for my birthday and it is quite fun using them in this. If you hate them I'll stop adding them though. :)

As always, thank you for reading and for the feedback.

"Courage is grace under pressure."

Ernest Hemingway

"When a good man is hurt, all who would be called good must suffer with him."

Euripides

Chapter Two

Steve adjusted the Velcro strap on his vest then shrugged his shoulders to settle it. He checked his gun, clicking a new magazine home with practiced fingers before he slipped it into the holster on his right thigh. Spare magazines hung from his vest, in easy reach in case he needed them. His earpiece dangled over his right shoulder, attached to the radio clipped to his belt. He hooked his badge on his vest and picked up his gloves, tugging them on.

Satisfied that he was ready, he grabbed the large bag resting on the floor next to his booted feet and headed towards the door. He ignored the crowded elevator in favour of jogging down the stairs. Sweat was already dampening the black t-shirt under his vest.

Danny met him at the bottom. He wore his own vest and his gun sat ready on his hip. He cast a practiced eye over Steve, checking his equipment and knew his partner was doing the same for him. They exchanged nods, Danny offering a wry smile at the sheer amount of equipment Steve managed to carry on his person.

"Sure you don't want a few more mags on that vest, Rambo?" he kidded as they walked towards the door to the car park. "I feel positively under dressed here." He waved his hands at his own torso.

"That's funny, Danno," Steve said. "Very funny."

"What's in the bag?" Danny asked as they left the building and walked towards the cars.

"Thermal imaging camera," Steve replied and swung the bag into the locker in the bed of his truck. "Should be able to tell us what's going on in the house."

"That's it?" Danny spread his hands. "No nasty surprises?"

Steve closed the locker and fastened it, shooting Danny a quick smile. "The nasty surprises are in the other bag."

Danny leaned against the truck. "Of course they are," he muttered.

Kono walked towards them. Her long strides ate up the ground. She had strapped on her vest and fastened her hair back from her face. The badge on her belt glinted in the bright sunlight. She tucked her hands in her pockets, looking a little unsure.

Danny was suddenly struck by just how young she looked. He knew that she was fully trained, but it served as a reminder that she didn't have the same amount of experience as the rest of them. This was shaping up to be a tough bust, and he made a mental note to keep an eye on her.

"So, Kono, what do you think it'll be this time?" Danny started, shooting a side long look at Steve. "Me, I'm going to go for a grenade through the roof."

Steve looked up from the map he was studying. "I only did that once." He paused and thought about it. "Well, okay. Technically, twice."

Kono smiled. "Does this house have a skylight?"

"I really doubt it," Steve said and managed to sound a little disappointed.

Kono chuckled, while Danny just shook his head.

Chin jogged towards the group. His bright shirt was a sharp counterpoint to the stark darkness of his vest. He carried his shotgun in one hand and a stack of papers in the other. "Latest from HPD. They haven't seen anyone leave the house, but they did see a truck going in. Four male occupants in the vehicle."

"Thanks, Chin," Steve said.

He spread a map on the truck's hood and waited until they gathered around it before he traced his finger along a road. "This is where the house is located. We park up here-" he tapped a spot on the map with his finger "-and hike in from there. It's about half a mile from the house. That should be far enough away that anyone in there won't be able to hear us coming. Chin, Kono, I want you to cover the back. I'll send HPD with you. Danny and I will go in the front."

They all nodded.

"Remember, this guy is armed and dangerous. He has killed cops before," Danny said. "He prefers knives, but he'll use anything he can lay his hands on as a weapon."

"HPD got a photo of Anderson." Chin handed over another sheet of paper. "They pulled it off a traffic cam this morning."

Anderson was sitting behind the wheel of a blue SUV. His hands looked heavily tattooed and he had a head full of thick dreadlocks, held back from his face with a bandana. Another tattoo covered most of his left cheek. Every finger had a ring on it, and his wrist sported a large, ugly watch.

"The dreads have to be a wig," Kono pointed out. "He was seen on the mainland less than two months ago. They wouldn't have grown that long that fast."

Danny stared down at the photo. "I hope it itches," he said.