CHAPTER 4
Chin was still seated in the chair in the corner, smoking his pipe with enjoyment as he mused upon the many thoughts that were present in his intelligent mind. Kono was standing by the window with Steve; their faces were hard and grave, and they appeared to be discussing something very pressing in whispered tones. But no matter what they were all doing beforehand, every one of their heads turned when Danny reentered the room.
The young man looked back at each of them with new vim in his attitude, as he neatly closed the door behind him. "It's all taken care of, Steve." Danny affirmed in a business-like tone, effortlessly slipping back into his role as a professional policeman.
Kono watched the blonde for a moment with an inquisitive air, and he raised an interested eyebrow. "Was she upset?" he asked in a prying way, though his tanned face tried to keep a deceiving appearance that seemed above suspicion.
Danny grinned back at Kono complacently, before shaking his head and heading back to the chair he had occupied earlier. "Not one bit." He answered coolly, maintaining his calm manner. Danny then plopped down in his seat and switched his gaze to Steve, who was leaning pensively against the window-sill. "Now, let's get back to this case." He said, eager persistence plainly discernable in his voice. "A murderer is still at large out there, and we need to find him."
When these words reached McGarrett's ears, his stormy, pondering, blue eyes looked back at Danny with slight surprise, yet true respect. That blonde would make a pretty good cop one day. "Alright, Danno." He agreed, pushing away from the window's ledge with his elbow. "Let's get back to work."
After glancing at the outdoor traffic one last time, Steve moved away from the elevated window and sat back at his desk with a resigned exhale. Many papers were scattered all over it, as well as open files; others cases that also needed to be solved. But this murder was the top priority on the list. The other offenses were still serious, but not as urgent as Linda Marsh's killing.
Amongst all the files, papers, pens, and memos (Mr. McGarrett still managed to keep his desk tidy, regardless of all these objects), there was one, solitary, Styrofoam cup of hot coffee. The steam rose out of the warm liquid in soft, creamy coils that gradually evaporated into the moist, air-conditioned environment. Steve just seemed to notice the cup when he settled back into his office-chair. Even as his observant eyes rested upon it, he suddenly remembered its purpose and how it had gotten there. McGarrett's seemingly ancient beige chair creaked in protest as he leaned forward towards the cup, and took it in his large yet caring hands. He then held it out to Danny. "It's still hot." He said to the younger man. "I asked Jenny to bring it in a few seconds after you left."
Danny dipped his head in meek gratitude and enthusiastically received the small white cup. "Thanks." He said, giving Steve a quick glance of appreciation just before placing his lips against the Styrofoam. McGarrett winked back at him; he was more then happy to serve one of his closest and dearly loved friends.
However, the conversation Kono had started not too long ago, which had been dismissed by Danny, was not yet finished. The dark, brawny Hawaiian did not like nor believe the answer Mr. Williams had given him; he simply could not accept it. Jane must have been slightly annoyed that Danny had broken yet another date with her, not that it was his fault of course! His job was what it was, and whoever committed themselves to him should know that. Danny always pointed out that Jane was very tolerant though… But even if she was the most loving, patient, and kind woman in the world, she had to have been somewhat offended.
"Are you telling me that your girlfriend wasn't the least bit upset that you couldn't have lunch with her?" Kono asked ever more nosily, moving over to Danny's chair and carefully swiveling it around so he could fix the blonde in his questioning stare.
No matter how cautious Kono was when he twisted the chair, the blistering fluid in the foam cup leapt up and onto Danny's mouth. The youngest member of Five-O pursed his lips as the hot coffee burned them, but did not yield to Kono's meddlesome inquiries. He only tossed the Hawaiian an irritated glance before pulling the chair away from his grasp, and resting back into it seemingly undisturbed. "She was fine with it, really." He persisted more ardently, raising the cup to his mouth again, though determining that he would not burn himself this time.
Kono's discerning eyes narrowed with dissatisfaction, and he leaned on Danny's chair's arms and into his face. The two men stared at each other; Kono was searching for something that wasn't there and Danny was simply enjoying the good taste of his coffee. The young man tried to avert his light blue eyes from looking into Kono's, but it just happened. Whenever Danny tried to look up, the Hawaiian's interrogating features were there to greet him. Danny couldn't help but chuckle a bit; Kono's face was so serious! At last, the blonde couldn't help himself and cracked up.
"What on earth are you doing, Kono?" Danny asked, half laughing and half trying to swallow the rest of the coffee in his mouth so he didn't choke on it instead.
Kono's expression darkened with irritation when he heard this, and his black marble-like eyes finally rolled away from Danny. Soon after, he lost interest, dropped his probing air, and let out an unconvinced grunt. Trudging back over to Chin, Kono rested his elbows on the Chinese man's chair, and placed his chin in his hands. "Forget it, bruh-da." He said, annoyance vaguely audible in his thick Hawaiian accent. Since Kono was truly Polynesian by origin, as well as the fact that he was still mastering English, he pronounced brother as bruh-da. Steve, Danny, and Chin had picked up on this pronunciation of the word too, and they took a liking to it. So now, all of them had come to use it.
"You like a hard rock." Kono continued in a peeved voice, knocking his fists against each other to illustrate his words. "I couldn't get anything out of you even if I threw you across this room!" The burly Hawaiian then shook his head and stated skeptically, "I still can't believe she just let you get away with this. She must have said something!"
Now, it was Danny's turn to be annoyed. Kono's relentless pursuit of this silly conversation was getting pretty tedious. That tenacious policeman was determined to get the answer he was looking for, even if it wasn't what really happened! Danny whirled his chair around towards Steve's desk and set his cup of coffee back on the table. He then spun his chair back around so he could look Kono straight in the eyes. Folding his hands neatly in his lap and sitting up straight in his seat, he answered in a sarcastic tone, "What did you want her to say? 'Oh Danny, you break too many dates because of your very inane police-work. I'm breaking up with you.'" The aggravation in Danny's lucid blue eyes only loitered for a moment longer, before it departed and left a gleaming adoration in its stead. The youthful cop shook his head, rested it back against his chair, and smiled. "My Jane's not like that." He said in a soft murmur, his chest swelling with pride a little. "She's the most forgiving person I know. Except for God of course." Danny staid contemplative for a minute, and many memories of treasured past times roamed through his brain. But then, the far-away shimmer in his eyes faded and he stepped out of his pleasurable thoughts. He then took his foam mug back into his palms and took a taste of his coffee. However, the swirls of rich steam had ceased to rise up from the cup's rim, and the fluid inside had become lukewarm. But the young man didn't seem to notice.
Chin nodded in accordance to Danny's statement, and re-adjusted in his seat to find a more comfortable position. "Jane is a nice girl." He acknowledged simply, crossing his legs and seeming at perfect ease. "She very nice. Only she can understand his job. Other girls, they think he's cute, but they don't like that he's a cop."
Kono's eyes filled with sudden and newly-learned knowledge, and his chin rose up from his clasped hands. "Ah," he sighed forlornly, casting Danny a pity-filled glimpse. "He got the look, but not the work." Mock sympathy enveloped the Hawaiian's simple yet kindly features soon after this remark, and he lowered a pouting lip towards Danny.
Danny's fair eyebrows furrowed and he glared back at Kono with the sour /I'm/not/amused/ look. An even more infuriated exhale lifted the young man's sturdy chest, before he turned away from his two colleagues and back to his boss. Danny's eyes, though shadowed by annoyance, were practically pleading for relief from the teasing. He knew that Kono was going to torment him doggedly throughout the whole day if Steve didn't stop him. Of course it would just be in jest, but Danny didn't particularly like the idea of being jabbed in the ribs fifty times in one single day. And if you were jabbed in the ribs by Kono Kalakua even a few times in one afternoon, you were sore for a couple of twenty-four hour periods.
"Steve," Danny started, trying to stay cool as ice and keep the exasperation out of his voice. But try as he might, he could not conceal all his emotions; the very centers of his eyes were fuming lividly. "Can you please tell Kono to lay off me? I mean, don't we have work to do?" Danny looked to Steve with growing expectancy, and he made his last voiceless appeal to his leader.
Steve grinned back at Danny, and the profound liking and respect he held for the young man shone through his care-worn features. The senior detective allowed himself one final amused chuckle, before nodding his head in willing agreement. "Yes, Danno." He answered, the last rare undertones of his beautiful laugh rolling off into the breezy air. McGarrett then turned back to his desk, picked up the file on Linda Marsh's murder, and opened it. "We've got plenty of work to do." He finished, his watchful eyes scanning over the few papers enclosed in the beige folder and scrutinizing each one carefully. After examining these papers for a while, McGarrett raised his head so he could make eye-contact with Kono. The mature policeman fixed his man in a stern, but not unkind stare. "Now, you leave Danny alone." He ordered gently, yet firmly. "If you want to tease him, do that when you're off duty."
Kono was mildly disappointed when he heard this command, for he had just thought of a few other excellent remarks to tease his close colleague with. But if Steve said no, then it was a definite no. Kono was reticent for a little while, and he refused to meet McGarrett's imposing stare. The Hawaiian man threw a few more mistrustful glances at Danny, before finally abandoning his zealous pursuit for the truth and reluctantly agreeing to a temporary cease-fire. So, the whole affair was settled and done with.
When he thought Steve wasn't looking, Danny leaned deeper into his chair in reprieve, and grinned at Kono in wordless gloating. Kono glowered back at him, let out a muffled grumble, and simply crossed his arms over his chest in defiance.
"I aint finished with you yet, bruh-da." He declared, returning Danny's victorious stare with his own playfully insolent one; those dark, glistening eyes were intent upon finding what they were looking for. Danny only rolled his own eyes in response, and took another sip of his coffee.
"Alright, that's enough you two." Steve said seriously, swinging around and looking at both his men with sober eyes, though some lingering laughter still sparkled within them. Danny and Kono cautiously observed each other for a long while, wordlessly settling the last of their playful feud. Soon, smiles were back on their faces and they nodded back at Steve, truthfully reassuring him that they wouldn't try to rib each other anymore. McGarrett accepted their vows warily, and then turned back to the pile of papers on his desk. A deep sigh passed his lips and he said,
"Now, while we wait for those lab results, let's get back to work."
