I wasn't sure how to introduce what happens in this chapter other than the way it goes. Sorry if it's too surprising. Also, thank you to those who have been reviewing. I'd love to know what the rest of you are thinking about this story.
Chapter Four "Run Away"
Danny looked up as he and Johnny reached the top off the stairs at HQ. He could tell Johnny wasn't happy to be there even without looking at him.
As he suspected, Steve approached them, but he looked—if Danny's eyes weren't playing tricks on him—hesitant, nervous, even afraid. Danny had never seen Steve look that way.
The tension was obvious. Johnny did not want to be there and Steve didn't want to make things worse, but he was frustrated. Then they started talking.
"I was told I had to see you," Johnny said giving Danny a sideways look.
"There's something you need to know," Steve said also giving Danny a look. "I would have told you the other day, but..." Steve cleared his throat. "Why don't we talk in my office?"
Johnny crossed his arms. "I'd rather not."
Steve half shrugged. "Okay," he said. "There's something you need to know... about Mom."
Johnny's eyes flickered and his mouth set in a firm line. "What about her?" he asked.
Steve sighed. "Her death wasn't an accident."
Johnny shifted his feet and his eyes wandered for a second. Then his focus came back to Steve. "Are you saying she was murdered?" he asked in a low voice.
Steve nodded.
Johnny looked back and forth, as if he didn't want anyone to hear them. "How long have you known?"
"Just after Dad died."
"And you didn't think maybe I should know?"
"Would you have answered the phone? Seriously? Because I'm trying to remember a time when we were on good enough terms that I'd be able to get a hold of you."
"You could have tried."
"I did try. How many times did I call you and you wouldn't answer? I don't know what you wanted."
Johnny shook his head. "So why now?"
"You're here," Steve said. "I never thought that would happen. And you deserve to know."
"Okay. What is it that I should know?"
Steve's expression said that he hadn't expected anything else. "It was a car bomb," he said as matter-of-factly as he could. "Dad was investigating connections between the Yakuza, Jameson, and a man named Wo Fat."
"Jameson, the governor? The one you were arrested for killing?"
"You heard about that?"
"Kekoa said something about it. So, she was on the take or what?"
"I don't know. Wo Fat killed her before I could get the whole story."
"So they had Mom killed? To stop Dad, or what?"
"Yeah. I think they meant to kill him, though. It was his car. We caught the guys who did it and took down several Yakuza members, but Wo Fat is still out there."
Johnny appeared to be thinking for a moment. "That's why Dad sent us away."
Steve nodded.
"So... is it... I mean, if you're still looking into this..."
"You and Mary could become targets. Mary already did."
"What?"
"She was kidnapped when she was here. They wanted to know how much she knew."
Johnny didn't say anything for a moment. "I see," he finally said. "Doesn't change much now."
A look, as if he had something to say, crossed Steve's eyes. But he didn't. He kept his mouth shut.
"So that's it, huh?" Johnny asked.
"Yeah, I guess," Steve said. "Will you... be careful?"
"I've taken care of myself for twenty years; I think I'll be fine."
Steve shook his head. "It's not the same."
"How would you know? Like I said, I can take care of myself. Will that be all?"
Steve's jaw worked as if he was angry about something but didn't want to show it. "Look, I know you can't understand this—"
"First thing you've been right about since third grade homework. Stop wasting time worrying about me, all right."
Johnny turned to walk down the stairs and Steve looked to the side as if ignoring him. "Run away, Jackie," he muttered, knowing it was loud enough to be heard.
Johnny stopped on the stairs but he didn't turn around. Danny wondered if he would say anything. He hoped so. He knew it wouldn't exactly be a nice experience for any concerned, but he thought it would be better than the two brothers never speaking again.
"I am running," Johnny said. "I suggest you do the same."
H-5-O
Danny watched Steve's eyes change. He knew this was very bad. And he wasn't quite sure what to do. Steve walked slowly to his office and shut thee door.
Danny heard Chin come up beside him. He hadn't thought of it, but the older detective probably knew Johnny.
"I didn't know it was this bad," Chin said.
"What did you know?" Danny asked.
Chin shrugged. "I knew they didn't talk much, but Steve was like that with Mary too. I didn't realize Johnny felt so much animosity."
Danny nodded. "Steve's a mess about this."
"How do you figure?"
"I know him. He's not doing well."
"So what are you thinking?"
"I don't know. How do you feel about alternative rock music?"
"What are you getting at, brah?"
"Oh, I'm just thinking JJ Sidney might have a few extras in his audience tonight."
"You think Steve will go for that?"
"I think he might be willing to try it at this point."
Chin shrugged. "I hope so. You'd better talk to him about it."
Danny looked toward Steve's door. He was not looking forward to this, but he knew what he had to do. As he looked through the glass, Danny saw Steve on the phone. It looked like he was listening to a message and Danny thought it safe to assume who it was from.
Danny never ceased to feel for Steve whenever he was reminded of the situation with Catherine. Sometimes it seemed like they were on the brink of happily ever after, and other times, it was a miracle they weren't having a full blown custody war. Danny didn't know what to make of it, though he had tried to help. That seemed to be the way of things lately.
H-5-O
Steve looked down at his phone and saw that he had a message. From Catherine. He quickly hit the button to listen to it.
"Hey, Steve," came her somewhat stressed voice. "Jack wanted to come see you tonight. If you're too busy, we can work out something else. So, uh, call me and let me know."
Steve sighed. Two more people to explain things to. He didn't have time to think more about it when Danny came into his office.
"You know what I think," he said without preamble.
"Not often," Steve replied distantly.
"I'll tell you then," Danny said. "I think I know what you're doing tonight."
Steve frowned. "I highly doubt that."
Danny nodded. "Oh, yes. You are going to a rock concert."
Steve understood Danny's meaning, but the expression didn't leave his face. "No, I'm spending the evening with Jack. I just got a message from Catherine."
Danny looked as if he were thinking. "How are things with you two, by the way?"
Steve sighed. "Not how I want, but okay."
Danny nodded. "So, no way you'll make it to Johnny's show."
"No. Not unless..."
"Yeah. Take the rest of the day to be with Jack. I think you could both use it. I'll pick you up later."
Steve didn't disagree like Danny thought he would. He just pulled out his phone and asked Catherine to bring Jack by HQ. The conversation was short, and Danny could see what Steve meant by things not being the way he wanted.
H-5-O
After the chaos of work and the surprise return of his brother, Steve was more than ready to take some time to be with his son. But there was something he had to do first, so when Catherine and Jack showed up, he asked them both to come into his office for a minute.
That is, after he was able to disentangle himself from the surprisingly strong arms of his little boy. Jack was talking faster than Steve could follow, probably because he left out important words, and Steve wondered if he had been like that as a child. He couldn't remember. Johnny had been.
"Is something wrong?" Catherine asked when the three of them were alone.
Steve sat on the couch with Jack in his lap who had become strangely silent. "The reason I asked you to come early," he said. "Is that my... my brother is in town."
Catherine didn't say anything for a second. "Your brother," she stated. "You... Have a brother?"
Steve nodded. "I'm sorry I never told you," he said. "Things have been... strained between us for a long time."
Catherine nodded slowly. "And they still are?"
"Yeah... yeah. It's... not good."
Catherine gave him an understanding look. "So you're going to see him tonight?"
"I hope," Steve said, absently rubbing circles in Jack's back.
"Daddy?" Jack said suddenly.
Steve looked down into the dark blue eyes of his son. "What, Jack?" he replied.
"What's his name?"
Steve couldn't help the small smile that pulled at his lips. "Johnny," he said.
Catherine stood up and brushed Steve's shoulder with her had. "I'll come by later," she said. "Let me know if... if there's anything I can do."
Steve nodded. He wished he had the courage to do just that.
