There will be longer chapters coming I promise. :)

Title: What matters most
author: Cindy Ryan
notes and summary: see part one

Steve was grateful for technology as he and Chin moved through the forest. Kono had gone back to the satellite phone he was able to get an update on Grace from Kono. As terrible as the events were it eased Steve's mind to know that the little girl was out of surgery and resting comfortably. Steve had tried to call his partner and got no response. After their last conversation the no response set a knot in Steve's stomach. He had to concentrate on the mission and find the witness. Steve could only pray that Danny kept his cool in the mean time. The knot in his stomach told him it was going to be a very long day.


Danny had been headed to HPD when a call from Rachel diverted him to her house. She'd gone home to change and get things for Grace and found the front door partially open. Thankfully Rachel hadn't gone inside but called him and HPD. They still hadn't arrived by the time Danny pulled up the long driveway.

"Stay in the car."Danny ordered quietly and waited until his ex was safely in the silver car.

Drawing his weapon Danny entered the house being careful not to disturb any fingerprints or other evidence. Seeing the destruction of the living room Danny bit back a curse. Furniture was toppled and broken, pictures smashed, and paintings cut and shredded. If the rest of the place was like this somebody had been looking for something and most likely hadn't found it.

A room by room search revealed more chaos. It took Danny a long time to move away from his daughter's room. It was the same state as the rest of Rachel's home. When he got his hands on the bastards...With a barely controlled grip on the anger threatening to overwhelm him Danny holstered his gun and went back outside. The police had just pulled up and were talking to Rachel who had gotten out of the car. Danny pulled the lead officer aside and briefed him. Then he went over to Rachel who stood staring at her home with her arms folded over her chest.

"How bad?"Rachel asked quietly.

"Bad."Danny said with a sigh. "Nothing insurance can't fix and it looked like nothing of value was taken."

"Nothing taken? So this wasn't a robbery?"Rachel inquired turning to face Danny.

"They were looking for something."Danny said slowly. "Is Stan in any trouble?"

"No."Rachel protested.

"You were in his car and were carjacked and now the house..."Danny replied his voice rising as he gestured with one arm towards the large house.

"He's a businessman and Grace's stepfather."Rachel retorted eyes filled with fear and anger.

"This has to be connected to Stan."Danny insisted. "Rachel..."

"He's a good man, Danny."Rachel replied looking back at the house.

"Good people get mixed up in bad things."Danny said grimly. "Will you be okay here or do you need me to drop you somewhere?"

"I'll be fine."Rachel said quietly.

Danny nodded and walked to the driver's side of his car and opened the door. For a long moment Danny looked at his scared and worried ex-wife to the police moving in and out her front door. They may not be married any longer but Rachel would always be family. Danny got into the car and shut the door a bit harder than necessary. Somebody was targeting Stan Edwards and Danny was going to find out why. If he took Rachel's new marriage down in the process Danny would deal with the consequences. The only thing that mattered right now was Grace. She'd already been shot Danny had to do whatever he had to in order to keep his daughter safe. Danny turned the car around and left.


After completing what she needed to do at the courthouse Kono went to the main station of HPD. She asked about the suspect in the Edwards's carjacking. The desk officer checked the log and told her the suspect had been transferred into five-o custody.

Kono gripped the counter as she met the older officer's gaze. After asking about Grace, Steve had asked Kono to keep tabs on Danny. She knew something like this was what her boss had been afraid of. Kono didn't have to call the governor to know the transfer hadn't been authorized. Kono cleared her throat.

"Who was the suspect transferred to?"Kono asked quietly.

The officer glanced at the computer screen.

"Williams."The officer replied. "Is there a problem? Says here everything checked out."

Kono forced a smile as she pried her hands away from the counter and stepped back.

"No problem just got our wires crossed."Kono said as she turned to leave. "You know how it is with co-workers."

The man nodded in sympathy.

Once outside Kono pulled out her cell and dialed Steve's satellite phone. As unhappy with this as Kono knew he would be she needed to know what Steve wanted her to do.