Many thanks to TheDogo and julieb for their help so far... :-)

/./././

Steve made several calls as he flew through traffic, alerting his team and HPD to the situation. Nobody had heard from Danny since work the previous day.

His gut was torn apart with worry. No way would Danny ever leave Grace alone.

Chest tight, head spinning, he could barely see the road. It was a good thing he could find his way there blindfolded. Danny. Danny. Danny.

Something was terribly wrong. He could sense it.

He was scared shitless. This was Danny. His best friend. How could he just disappear?

Steve knew his best friend didn't just disappear. Somebody took him. With Grace in the house. Just like that. Danny was gone.

Maybe there was something Grace missed.

But she was a smart girl. A chip off the old block. And that subtle lilt to her voice had told him all he needed to know. She was terrified.

To keep his hands from shaking, he gripped the wheel harder. Breathing in through his nose and out his mouth.

Lock it down. Get a grip.

Steve went over what he knew. He'd been on the phone with Danny off and on the previous evening. They'd disagreed on a case. Something about procedure. They'd made up. The conversation had shifted to Grace and their weekend plans. Pancakes in the morning and then maybe the beach. The beach. Danny had happily agreed to go to the beach. He was actually looking forward to it.

This made Steve smile. And then out of the blue, his eyes welled up.

Grace might never see her Danno again. He might never see him again. Shit, no. He could not let that happen. Refused to believe it was even possible.

When he hit Danny's street, Steve did his best to switch gears. Except for Grace, he had to be all business. Pull himself together and take care of this like a pro. No emotions.

Once he handed Grace off to someone he trusted – Duke in this case – he could compartmentalize. Investigate this like any other case.

Steve scanned the outside of the house. Nothing appeared to be amiss. He didn't even see anyone on the street. It looked like any other sleepy Saturday morning.

He made note of the Camaro. Sitting there right where it should be. And somehow, this morning, that was all sorts of wrong.

There were no obvious signs of forced entry. No damage to the front door.

His first objective was to secure Danny's most precious thing on the planet.

He had his key ready, but knocked anyway, calling her name. He didn't want to freak Grace out more by simply slipping into the house.

"Grace? I'm coming in."

Steve continued calling for her as he entered.

"Uncle Steve?" Her voice muffled. She'd followed his instructions.

He could hear the others behind him now. Chin had been his first call, and now the first to appear. He must have set the Five-0 phone tree in motion. Kono also slipped through the open door, moving passed both men and nodding in one fluid motion.

He knew they would clear the place, making sure there were no surprises. His world was now reduced to one room and a scared little girl. Steve paused in the hall, hand hesitating as he reached for the door. He didn't want her to know how scared he was. Because right now, he had the feeling it wouldn't take much for him to lose it.

Taking a deep breath, he fought through his fear, shoving all doubt aside. They would find Danny. But first, he needed to comfort Grace, make sure she was alright.

Grace threw herself into him as soon as he opened the door. They held on to each other for a few seconds. Then Steve pulled away to get a good look at her.

"You okay, Gracie?"

His question was ignored. She had too many of her own. "Where's Danno, Uncle Steve? What happened to him? Is my dad okay?"

He froze for a moment, letting her continue.

"I woke up and he was gone. I couldn't find him, Uncle Steve." She kept saying over and over again.

She was quiet after a minute, finally stopping to catch her breath.

The flood of questions met a very concerned but stern face.

"You're not hurt anywhere?"

She shook her head. "I woke up and he was gone."

"Okay." Steve squeezed her hand. He made sure not to break eye contact, and to keep his face soft. No tense jaw, no death stare. "Did you see anything?"

"No, Uncle Steve. I woke up and Danno was gone. I was gonna jump on him. Wake him up. I know I'm not supposed to, but-" She bit her lip. "Is Danno okay? I'm really worried."

He caught it right away. The tremor running through them both. If he wasn't careful, her panic would infect him. He needed to maintain control, and that meant raising his voice just a little.

"Grace." He might have said her name a little louder than planned. And he hoped a half smile helped soothe her. "The second I know something, I will tell you."

She didn't flinch. He watched her compose herself.

"Good or bad? You'll tell me?" Her eyes were clear, serious.

"I'll never lie to you, Gracie." He knew this to be true no matter how impossible it might be prove to be. He would do anything for his partner's not so little Monkey.

"Okay." She shivered and then melted against him. "I'm so worried."

"I know, Grace. Me too." He gave her a good squeeze and then pushed gently away. "You have to go and stay with your mom today. Police officers will keep you all safe until I can come for you."

She nodded. Danno told her to always obey Uncle Steve. And she did. Without question. Always trusting him as she did her father.

The look on her face told him his reassurance wasn't quite enough. He knelt close to her and wrapped his arms around her again, whispering, "I love you, Gracie."

"I love you too, Uncle Steve."

"Go with Duke, okay?"

Like magic, Duke appeared in the hallway, arms out to gather up the trembling girl. Steve watched Grace being led away. Her bravery helped him keep his nerve.

He shook himself, mentally switching back from Uncle Steve to head of Five-0. He had an investigation to conduct. Focusing on the task at hand was the only way to bring Danny home. With a deep breath, he pushed all sentiment away.

Chin stood in the doorway to Danny's room. "Not sure if there was a struggle or if this is just how Danny sleeps."

"This isn't right. Something happened here. He's messy, but not like this."

Kono appeared. "No sign of forced entry. No sign of anything."

"Who could make it in and out with Danny without leaving a trace?" Chin already knew the answer.

"Professionals." Steve said what they were all thinking.

Kono couldn't help herself. "Didn't Danny piss off the CIA?"

The humor wasn't lost on them, but it did nothing to lighten the mood.

Hands on his hips, Steve looked away from his colleagues. "No, I'm thinking more recent history."

"Colombia." Kono all but whispered.

Chin closed his eyes and took a breath. This wasn't the place to discuss it. All three of them understood.

"Let CSU finish up here. We need to head to the Palace. And then to my place." Steve was already out the door before they could respond.