Restless Days and Restless Nights

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VIRAL VIDEO
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Part 4 C
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About 40 minutes later, Jerry was back in his 'office'. He sent a copy of the file to Dr. Bergman, Dr. Cunha, and a few of his computer nerd friends. He included e-mail notes explaining the back story of how the video came to him, who it was and a quick summary of all he had learned from McGarrett. He also sent all the information to both Duke and Detective Katsumoto. He explained the tests that he had done, that as far as he could determine and prove the video was indeed totally genuine; he also added that Junior had personally witnessed the feat before and that Steve McGarrett knew admirals and generals who had seen it happen. It was genuine, totally.

Adam had sent an e-mail with the video to Kono. McGarrett had sent his to his network of fellow SEALs and former SEALS, to Chin Ho Kelly in San Francisco and so on and so on. It seemed each person in the office when they had first reviewed the video had thought of someone they wanted to show it to. Even Tani and Junior had sent copies out to many friends and acquaintances, but Steve McGarrett started laughing when Danny wandered into his office, sheepishly asking for a copy of the video to forward to Rachel, Grace, and Charlie. He also asked if Steve could arrange an introduction to Higgins as he thought Rachel might enjoy meeting another English ex-pat surviving in Oahu.

However, that evening, at home watching TV, McGarrett winced when the video showed up with commentary on both the local and the national news. He wasn't sure Thomas was going to appreciate his feat being carried on the news. Oh, boy. Time to apologize perhaps, as things seemed to have gotten out of hand. Steve was a bit concerned how Magnum might react if the news went and stuck a microphone in his face, asking him if he suffered from PTSD.

Steve started hunting around for the slip of paper with the Robin's Nest phone number. Suddenly it occurred to Steve that Magnum might have a webpage or something. No, why not just call either Rick at the King Kamehameha Club or TC at Island Hoppers? That might be a wiser approach. The number for Island Hoppers was actually on his fridge as he had put it up there when Mary had said she might come in for a week or two, so he took it and sat down with his phone and dialed the number.

"Island Hoppers, how may I help you?"

"Is this TC?"

"Well, well, well….what can Island Hoppers do for Steve McGarrett today?"

Steve smirked. "I was wondering if I could get Magnum's phone number from you."

"Depends, what do you need it for – he's still got some healing to do."

"Did he pull out stitches with his little stunt the other day?"

"Yeah, I heard you got a hold of the video from Katsumoto. Do we have you to thank for it going viral?"

"I think that was a combination of factors, TC, but I feel like I need to apologize to Thomas."

"Naw, he's not upset. Come on, you know Thomas. When the woman reporter got in his face asking if he was suffering from PTSD, he got a little upset, but he shook it off and advised her, rather politely, to please get the mike out of his face, as he did have a legal concealed carry permit, and he, in return, wouldn't ask her if she was crazy." TC chuckled. "At least the woman had the grace to blush. At that point, Thomas just shut the gate in her face and went back to the guest house."

"How far out did he get before you caught up to him?" McGarrett asked curiously.

"25 nautical miles according to Rick who was at the controls…and yeah, Rick had to put several stitches back in. I have a feeling his doctor is not going to be happy with him in a few days when he goes in to have the stitches removed to find ones in catgut instead of his neat little ones, but Thomas will set him straight. You know what he thinks of 'Doctor's Orders'. As I recall, you have a bit of the same attitude towards them."

"Actually, I've mellowed on that. Having to have a liver transplant cures you of that kind of defiance real fast."

"Damn, I didn't know about that." TC went on. "Anyway, poor Thomas was blindsided by the attention the video garnered because he didn't even know Rick had filmed him. He was surprised, but he didn't get mad. He's just Thomas, you know? If anything, he was a bit embarrassed but hid it by being all cocky."

"Yea, that sounds like Magnum. Still, mind if I get his number?"

"No, of course not. Surprised you don't have it."

"I do…somewhere around here."

TC gave him the number. "Have a good evening, McG."

"You, too, TC."

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As soon as he got off the call with TC, McGarrett dialed the number for Magnum. "Thomas Magnum Private Investigations…"

"You sound tired, Magnum."

"Hey, McGarrett. How are you doing?"

"How am I doing? You're the one who swam 25 nautical miles out to sea the other day, after breaching a tidal wall, in spite of having a still-healing shoulder after being shot…"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah –I keep hearing that from Rick, Higgins, TC and quite a few others. First, I think Rick exaggerated the distance; second, it's no big deal…still a free country and you know, whatever."

'Still, I never expected you to get harassed by the press about it…"

"So shared that video around after Katsumoto passed it to Ortega, huh? Don't worry about it, Mac. I actually have gotten some free advertising out of it and Higgins has the Dobermans growling at the press types if they get anywhere near the gate since the one caught me out at the mailbox. Of course, I don't know when the doctor is going to clear me to get back to work and Rick and TC are still kind of freaked about Hannah being on the Island, but it's all good."

"You are still too easy going, Thomas."

"You are still too tall, McG."

"Give me a break, Magnum; you are only what 4 inches shorter?"

"Yea, yea, but you look taller; for that matter so does TC."

"Optical illusion, T."

"Yea, yea, Big."

Steve laughed at the old nickname. "Okay, Small but Mighty." He flung his own nickname for TM at him and was rewarded with Thomas' rich laugh. "We have to get together one of these days."

"Sounds like a plan." Magnum yawned. "These antibiotics are kicking my posterior. Hitting the hay, earlier every night. Leave me tired all the time."

"You're still recovering, man. Cut yourself some slack. Besides, try anti-rejection meds…yuck."

"So what's it like having to regrow a liver from part of your partner's?"

"Oh, just a bundle of laughs."

"Yeah, brother, the only easy day…"

Together they finished the SEAL saying, "was yesterday."

"Good night, Thomas."

"Good night, Steven."

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A/N: Well, this concludes Ch. 4 I think that wraps it up nicely. Next up, probably, Rick needs a little help from his friends. And please, note, I bobbled a bit on publishing Parts A & B, but they are all fixed now. Some adjustments and editing were needed. Changing to Daylight Savings always screws up my sleep cycle and I have been going on very little sleep for a while now. Hopefully, it will turn around soon. Still, I'm job hunting so if I get one, the pace of publishing will slow down. TTFN!