Chapter 4

Steve McGarrett's home, 12:10 pm...

Chin parked in front of the house and noticed Steve's blue Silverado in the driveway. Climbing out of the car, Chin made his way to the front door, surveying the surroundings. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

After looking through the front windows, he knocked on the door, and waited for a few moments. When he received no response, he tried the door handle. Locked. His concern mounted as he made his way to the back yard, but again nothing seemed amiss.

Returning to the front of the house, he pulled out his phone. It was time to contact Danny.

"Are you looking for Steve?" a voice called from behind the lush vegetation.

"Ah, yeah?" Chin answered. "Who are you?"

An older man wearing a baseball cap and reflective glasses emerged from the greenery. "Marty Milner from next door."

"I'm Chin Ho Kelly, I work with Steve. Have you seen him around today?"

Marty shook his head. "Unless he's hiding indoors, which I doubt because he's an active fellow, I haven't seen him since he left last evening with a loud, short guy."

"Danny?"

Marty adjusted his silver framed glasses. "I don't know names. He moves his hands a lot though." The man demonstrated with several gestures.

"So you heard them talking?"

"Yeah, I was out watering my plants when he stopped by. Then he came out a few minutes later with Steve and they were auguring."

"Do you know what they were arguing about?"

"I wish I could help you with that, but I used to have some real nosy neighbors that lived on the other side that annoyed the heck out of me and my cat, so I try to mind my own business. I only noticed that they both seemed pretty upset. Especially the short guy. Do you think something happened to Steve?"

Chin didn't want to alarm the man. "No, I don't think so. Those two argue all the time." Chin smiled. "Thanks anyway." He pulled out a card from his pocket and handed it to the man. "If you see Steve or think of anything else give me a call."

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help. Do you think I should water Steve's flowers? I'd feel like a terrible neighbor if I let them die."

Chin nodded. "I'm sure that would be fine."

Chin headed back toward his car feeling more convinced that Danny knew something about Steve's disappearance. He only hoped Steve was all right, and that Danny would answer his phone.

#~~#~~#~~#

Cafe in downtown Honolulu, 12:25pm...

Danny ignored Chin's call for the third time, then put his phone on silent. He couldn't risk being interrupted. He didn't want to cause Steve any more harm by taking too long with his task. He grabbed the bundle on the seat next to him and stepped out of the car.

Kono was right where Dr. Tric said she would be. He figured the doctor had people keeping tabs on Five-0. Danny paused for a few moments to gather his thoughts as he watched Kono sip her drink. Then his heart sank. A tall dark haired man approached the table, kissed Kono, then took the seat across from her. It was Adam.

Danny groaned. The crazy doctor's timing was terrible, but deliberate. Danny was about to barge in on Kono's date and confess feelings he didn't have toward her, and all in front of her boyfriend. Could this day get any worse? He didn't want that question answered.

Finally, Danny gathered every ounce of courage, or more like craziness, and approached the couple.

Kono saw him first. "Hey, Danny. What are you doing here? Is everything all right?"

Danny put on his best cheesy smile. "No, everything isn't all right."

"What's wrong?"

"You're here eating lunch with this guy instead of me. That's what's wrong."

Adam stiffened and Kono's left eyebrow rose in confused surprise. "Um, did I forget something?" she asked.

"Not exactly because I haven't been honest with you." Danny produced a large bouquet of flowers from behind his back and handed them to her. "These are for you."

"Thanks..." Kono stared at the flowers. "Is this about what happened at the office this morning?"

"No, it's about us."

"Us?" Adam questioned. "Kono, what is he talking about?"

Kono shrugged. "Danny are you okay? You look a little pale."

Danny put a hand to his chest. "I am perfectly fine. I just need to tell you something that's been on my mind since the first day I met you."

Kono glanced at Adam and then back at Danny. "Okay."

Danny tried not to wince. "Kono Kalauaka, I love you."

Kono's mouth hung open, but Adam had something to say. He stood up. "Are you drunk?"

Danny straightened. "No, I am not drunk."

"Pick a fight with him," Dr. Tric ordered.

Danny didn't hesitate even though people were watching. "You don't express feelings for someone when you are drunk. That may be how you discuss matters of the heart, but real men wouldn't dream of it."

Adam stepped closer. "Excuse me?"

Kono jumped up and wedged her way between them. "Danny, what is going on?"

"I'm trying to save you from this loser." Danny pointed at Adam. "That's what."

"Maybe you should leave," Kono suggested, pushing Danny toward the exit. "We can talk about this later."

"I'm not leaving without you."

"That's it," Adam said, moving past Kono. "I don't know what's going on with you right now, but you need to leave."

Danny didn't like the glint in Adam's eye, but he continued. "Are you gonna make me?"

Adam reached for Danny's arm.

"Hey, back off." Danny held his hands in front of him. "You touch me, and I'll arrest you for assaulting a police officer."

At that moment, Kono's phone buzzed. Danny glanced down at the table. Chin was calling. Instantly, Dr. Tric's voice sounded in his ear. "Excellent performance, but I think we've overstayed our welcome. We better leave. Quickly."

Relieved, Danny dashed away, knocking into a waiter carrying a tray of food that flew through the air, splattering several patrons with its contents. Kono and Adam stared after Danny, bewildered by his behavior.

Kono grabbed her phone. "Hey, cos, you'll never guess what just happened."

#~~#~~#~~#

Back in Danny's Car...

"My that was exhilarating," Dr. Tric gushed.

"That was humiliating," Danny muttered.

"Well, at least Adam didn't punch you, although, I was hoping for some fisticuffs."

Danny stopped at a red light. "Are we done yet?"

"No, no, no, we're just getting started," Dr. Tric replied. Danny heard a rustle of paper. "Oh, yes," the doctor continued. "It's time to pick Grace up from school. It's early dismissal, remember?"

Danny couldn't breathe. "It's not my day."

"Of course, it is. I had— I mean you had a wonderful conversation with your ex-wife, Rachel, lovely woman by the way, and she thinks it's just fabulous that you're taking Grace to the beach."

Danny rubbed his eyes. "Please…please, don't drag my daughter into this."

"I'm not dragging anyone. But do remember who you're doing this for. Your friend's life depends on it."

Forty-five minutes later, Danny sat on the beach building a sandcastle with Grace. She spoke about her day, the test in math, and the boy at lunch who gave her half of his cookie. The dessert sharing Romeo was the least of Danny's worries. The knot in his stomach tightened with each passing moment as he waited to hear the chirping in his ear.

The two hours spent at the beach felt like an eternity to Danny. When he finally pulled up in front of Rachel's house, exhaustion overwhelmed him.

"You don't look so good, Danno," Grace said.

"I'm fine, monkey. Just a little tired."

"Aren't we all," Dr. Tric interrupted. "But I'm feeling the need for a little heart to heart talk."

Danny sighed. "Not now, please."

"What did you say?" Grace asked.

"I'm going to be blunt, detective," Dr. Tric informed him. "You're moving back to New Jersey."

"Are you crazy?" Danny blurted out.

"Danno?"

"Don't deny you've thought about it," Dr. Tric said in a sing songy voice. "At least that's what your browsing history implies. And by the way, I changed the wallpaper on your computer, it was...boring."

"You've been on my computer?" Danny questioned.

Grace frowned. "You said I could."

"New Jersey," Dr. Tric reminded him. "I'm growing impatient."

"Umm, Grace, I need to tell you something important." Danny turned to look at her. "I...I'm moving back to New Jersey."

"What?" Grace stammered. "Why, Danno?"

"Poor, thing," Dr. Tric murmured. "It's not as if you don't love her, but you do have a life and it's about time you started living it. Don't you agree?"

"No."

"That's a shame."

Hum. Zap. Scream.

"Tell her you had a great day, but your priorities have changed and she's no longer one of them."

Danny pressed his eyes closed as he leaned against the steering wheel, struggling to control his emotions. "I can't."

Steve screamed again.

"Remember, this is all on you, detective," the doctor said. "You're the one hurting your friend."

"Don't listen to him, Danny," Steve yelled.

"Shut up, Steve," Dr. Tric ordered. Zap. Steve cried out. "Silly me," the doctor continued. "I keep forgetting."

"Stop it," Danny begged.

Grace's eyes widened. "What's wrong, Danno?"

Zaaaaappp!

A howl erupted from Steve's throat, one that sliced through Danny's chest.

Danny debated the best course of action. If he said these horrible things to Grace, her heart would be broken. But if he refused, Steve would die. He glanced at his daughter in the rear view mirror, and suddenly the answer became clear. Grace would never forgive him if he let Steve die.

Danny swiveled in his seat. "I need to move on with my life, okay? You get that, right?"

"What do you mean?" Grace asked

"I—I just don't have time to be a father anymore."

Tears slipped down Grace's cheeks. "Something's wrong with you, daddy, why won't you tell me?"

"There's nothing to tell."

"She doesn't believe you," Dr. Tric said. "And might I add how terrible your friend looks."

Danny blinked back tears. "I don't want to be a father anymore, Grace."

He opened his car door and got out so he didn't have to look at her distraught face. Walking around the Camaro, he opened the passenger door. Grace sat stunned in the back seat for a few moments before climbing out.

Danny forced a smile and words he couldn't believe he was saying. "You understand, don't you, monkey?"

She wouldn't look at him.

Danny lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "Just tell your mom you want pineapple on your pizza tonight, and that'll make everything better."

Grace stared at him for several seconds, then blinked twice. Before Danny could say anything more, she turned and ran toward the house.

Danny raked his fingers through his hair and climbed into his car. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He laid his head against the steering wheel, hoping for an end to the madness.

Dr. Tric sighed. "I'm very disappointed. I wanted her to burst into tears. So now your friend's going to pay the price."

"No, please, I did what you—"

Hum. Zap. Scream!

Danny slammed his fists against the dashboard. "Oh, my God, please stop."

All Steve's previous screams paled in comparison to this agonizing cry. Danny had never heard anything so wretched. It sounded as if Steve's lungs were pulled from his chest and stretched to their fullest extent, until finally, they snapped, and he fell silent.

Danny held his breath.

"Oh dear, did his heart stop?" Dr. Tric wondered. "You might have overdone it, detective."

Danny felt numb. "McGarrett, are you there?"

"I'm not sure he can hear you."

"Oh, my God." Danny wiped the tears rolling down his face. "I swear I'm gonna hunt you down—" Danny's phone vibrated on the seat beside him. Without thinking, he grabbed it. "Hello," his voice broke.

"Danny?" Chin said. "Are you all right?"

Danny tried to concentrate, but his pounding heart and frantic mind drowned out all reason. "I killed him," he wailed. "I killed, McGarrett."

A/N: I know things are a little heartbreaking right now, but as crazy as things seem I hope you'll stick with me. I previously had a more lighthearted author's note here, but I rewrote it after someone was a little upset at how things went in this chapter. It's understandable and please feel free to share your thoughts with me. Thanks for reading.