Hi there, thanks for continuing to read and review. Many of you sent me encouragements and as always they are much appreciated. I had hoped to update sooner but the weekend got away from me...chauffering kids around to various sporting events can do that to you ;)

There was also a request to not end this quite yet and I'm happy to comply...some major Steve whumpage coming and I think you'll be reading with your hands in front of your face spying through your fingers...don't say I didn't warned you!

ho`omanawanui (patience)

Tentatively McGarrett ran his tongue over his cracked lips. The cut on his bottom lip made him grimace as he gently worked his jaw. He had lost track of time, dropping in and out of consciousness since arriving at the warehouse. The smell of salt and damp let him know that he was some where close to the harbour although the absence of industrial noise indicated that he was in a less frequented part of the vast Honolulu harbour area.

His first memory after waking up in the trunk of the car was of being hauled out by several men, dragging him in the darkness to the back of a warehouse and tying him up in a chair with a Samoan youth hovering next to him.

The tearing pain in his side reminded him of the knife injury and a gush of warm fluid ran down his leg.

'Not like I'm going anywhere…' he thought as he fought the lightheadedness caused by the blood loss.

The maneuvering had loosened the clot from the wound and he had started to bleed again. No one had made any effort to staunch the bleeding and McGarrett slumped in the chair pushing the pain aside and concentrating on slowing his breathing.

He could hear voices and laughter as the men gathered, drinking beer while listening to the account of the liquor store robbery.

The beating and torture started soon after.

The large Samoan that he had tangoed with in the store used McGarrett to demonstrate the finer points of beating someone within an inch of their life to the young members of the gang.

They had cut off his shirt and Beefy as McGarrett nicknamed the Samoan, traced his fingers along McGarrett's chest, giving an anatomy lecture to the eager onlookers pointing out locations to inflict maximal pain without killing a man, well at least not too quickly.

McGarrett was too tired to smile at the irony recalling how he had been taught similar techniques as part of his training in the military. He shut his eyes as his head fell forward onto his chest.

The next moment he was clenching his teeth in a futile attempt to suppress a groan as Beefy slammed a fist against his chest, causing a rib to crack under the force. A few seconds were lost in a haze of red pain before McGarrett lifted his head up again just in time to experience the difference between a closed and open fist punch to his face. The cheering of the impressed youth faded away as he heard a familiar voice calling him.

'Son, listen to me…remember what I told you…'

McGarrett blinked slowly, his eyes unfocused as he stared off into the distance.

'Dad?'

He shook his head in disbelief as he recognized his father standing a few feet away, his piercing grey eyes locked onto his son's face.

The memories of that day so many years ago rushed back. His dad had taken him fishing as a special treat on the weekend of his eighth birthday leaving his sister and mother behind. They had camped close to a river, built a large fire and grilled the catch of the day for their Saturday evening meal. On the Sunday Steve had lost his footing on the rocks tumbling head first into the river and was quickly swept up by the current. This was the first time Death had winked at him.

The cold water ran down his face in rivulets, dripping from the ends of his hair and running pink from the blood on his chest. Beefy had taken a sharp boning knife to McGarrett's chest, slicing into the skin just deep enough to cut the sensitive nerve endings running underneath. Growling his displeasure with each injury initially, McGarrett finally found himself crying out as tears of frustration filled his eyes. After thirty minutes of this abuse McGarrett started to lose consciousness but one of the youths poured cold sea water over his head forcing him to take deep gulps of air in as he fought the waves of pain.

The rocks had cut his feet and hands as Steve fought the current while watching his alarmed father run along the banks of the river to the spot where Steve had surfaced.

'Hold on, son…you hold on with all your might...'

Beefy stepped back and called one of the youths to the front handing him the knife and inviting him to practice.

'The boy couldn't be more than fourteen years old' thought Steve in disgust as he fought against his restraints feeling the plastic cut into his wrists.

The boy held the knife at 90 degrees gently placing it against McGarrett's breast bone. He nervously licked his lips as he increased the pressure and small pearls of red blood oozed from the flesh. The cheering from the other boys gave him courage and suddenly he pulled the knife downwards in a quick motion causing McGarrett to hiss in pain.

The youth turned and held the knife high howling a victory cry before handing it to the next youth.

Mercifully darkness wrapped around McGarrett and he lost himself in the past.

His father had nearly reached him when fatigue rolled over the eight year old, his gasps for air were answered with gushes of water and his windpipe flooded with the onslaught. Steve slipped under the water, all fight taken from him with his eyes wide open drifting downwards. The sunlight broke as it hit the surface causing the beams to bounce through the water and with his last thought Steve reached upwards as if to touch one of the golden beams.

The bright light shone in his eyes as Beefy pried them open. His pupils constricted and the Samoan grunted satisfied.

'He's still with us…tough bastard!'

McGarrett could hear the grudging admiration in the man's voice and the corners of his mouth twitched faintly. There was no feeling in his legs and his breath came in shallow, irregular drags. It took some of his last energy to lift his head up and run his gaze over the small group gathered around him.

'Samuel, come here…!' The Samoan waved a youth to the front.

'He shamed you...broke your nose…now it is time that he pays…it is time that you show me that you are ready and finish what you started.'

The pupils of the youth dilated wide as Beefy clicked his fingers and one of the older men standing in the background stepped forward holding a gun.

After a long minute the youth reached out and took the weapon staring down at it as he clutched it in his hand. Fear was clearly written over his face as he glanced from McGarrett to Beefy and back to the weapon.

'He is a police officer. He has seen all our faces…he has to die. Protect your new family, brother. Shoot him!'

The low seductive voice of the leader swayed the young man and he closed the distance to McGarrett, raising his arm and holding the weapon against McGarrett's temple.

The moment had finally come and McGarrett released a soft sigh. He was glad that he and Mary had taken the time to mend some bridges before she left for California. His death so shortly after their father's would hit her hard and his heart broke for her.

His thoughts turned to his Five O team who would be devastated that they had not been able to save him. Danno's prophecy had come true and it would haunt the Jersey man for the rest of his life. The proud and stubborn detective who McGarrett had been fortunate enough to call a friend and one of the best partner's he had ever worked with would drown in anger. The friendly litany of complaints against all and the world would turn bitter in the wake of his death. He wished he could spare his friend the pain of being right.

He prayed that the strength and fortitude possessed by Chin would help Danno and Kono cope. He prayed Kono would not lose faith as she was too young to be broken by the realities of law enforcement: you won some and you lost even more!

The calmness of the dark water cocooned Steve as he gradually closed his eyes and surrendered to the river.

Now, now...I can hear you all groan with this cliffhanger...just love to keep you in suspense.

Please review as it makes me smile and I'll be back soon with Danno and the team. Take care!