Chapter 7- The final journey

Chapter 7- The final journey

Steve's cold hands gripped tightly to the car seat as they sped toward Queens.

He fought with every ounce of his stamina to stay awake but his body and mind were both in a severe state of fatigue.

So when Doc finally arrived at Queens it was with a Steve McGarrett that was more unconscious than sound asleep. Doc ordered a stretcher to take gentle care of the 5-0 boss while he rushed away toward the ER wondering what would await him.

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"The funeral is set for tomorrow., it will be attended by many dignitaries and officials who are honoring the man who was partly responsible for Hawaii being free from the killer known as the Pill Popper. "The sun shining through the window heralded the arrival of a new day but the report left Steve's mind lodged in darkness, he was convinced the radio was referring to Danno.

Sitting bolt upright in his bed he placed his finger on the call button and held it down .

Steve only had to wait a couple of minutes before a familiar large figure entered through the closed curtains around his bed. As Steve Mc Garrett stared up into the face of Kono all he could think of saying was' just where the hell have you been".

"Tracking down the Popper Steve", came the droll reply as Kono parked his large frame on the bed beside his boss. " I heard a report saying…Steve stumbled over his words, no I don't want to know played through his mind. "Umm that Hawaii was free from the Popper. , Steve concluded wanting to avoid the topic of a dead Danno just a little longer.

"I guess I should fill you in, "Kono told him as he made himself more comfortable on the bed.

"Danny, well all of us really thought you were dead.

Chin and I were convinced it had to be a copycat killing. But not Danny, he got this idea that perhaps you'd unwittingly stumbled over the Popper. This idea was only strengthened after Danny began to retrace your steps.

Danny checked up on the reports from 18 months ago and saw HPD had visited the majority of small businesses. When we pointed this out to Danny he didn't seem disappointed but stated that if 2 cops visited a store of course the owner would deny seeing any of the victims. He said if one of the store owners had knocked you off it was only because you were alone and he needed to mirror your actions hoping to get the same result. Being caught in the act was after all definite proof by Danny's reckoning. Naturally Chin and I disagreed said with you dead Hawaii needed him to carry on as head of 5-0.

Kono shook his head, he really reminded us of you then, just stood his ground and said no he was going to do this but he'd take precautions.

He told me to hide in the trunk of his car, Chin was to tail discretely behind.

Danny told us he was going to let the popper knock him out but for us to think up as many ways of delaying the Popper as possible so that when Danny arrived at the beach he'd be conscious.

It was Danny's idea to not carry any medication on him hoping that might throw the popper off his plan.

Chin was to call Danny on the radio at 15 minute intervals , if he didn't respond to two hails then it was probable that his mission was successful and the Popper had him."

Steve shook his head stunned by the audacity or was that insanity of Danno's plan.

So we put the plan in motion , Danny went off stopping at stores. All went well for the first store Danny went inside and came out not long after. Then he went to the Hibiscus store. I of course couldn't see what was happening but knew Chin was close by keeping an eye on things.

After awhile I felt the car move again and guessed Danny must be on his way to the next store. Then I heard Chin page Danny and him not reply and knew that the Popper must be driving. Chin then put the next delaying action under way. Danny had rung Lance Davis ,you know the radio boss and asked if he'd do him a favour and call the Popper names on air. It was Danny's belief that the Popper might get mad enough to respond which in fact worked.

The Popper made it onto the airwaves taunting all of Hawaii. Then he set off again for what I supposed was the beach. Sure enough the car soon stopped again and I began to hear the sounds of the Popper opening the car doors.

I decided I'd better act quickly now and leap out and save Danny. However when I tried to get out of the trunk I found it to be jammed.

You can imagine my panic, the Popper was probably dragging Danny down to the sea and here I was trapped in the trunk.

With all of my strength I heaved on the trunk and it finally popped open.

All I could see were the waves crashing and a figure walking away further up the beach. Surely that had to be the Popper and I hoped Chin had arrived safely and was now in the process of tailing the guy. My focus was naturally on what had become of Danny.

Steve held up his hand and Konos report stopped. A cool glass of water beckoned and Steve drunk it slowly delaying the inevitable question about Danny.

It was obvious that Danny had intended rescue to come before he got dragged into the water. However that stuck trunk had ruined his plans and poor Danno had obviously drowned.

Steve finished the water and took a deep breath as he got up the courage to ask about where Danny's body was located.

"Kono about Danno," Steve began, he was interrupted though by the appearance of Doc who was accompanied by Chin Ho and an unfamiliar female.

Steve, this is Ms Olivia Walsh, Chin introduced. "Hello Ms Walsh, Steve greeted, he wondered why Chin was introducing him to this woman. "Ms Walsh has come to tell you about the Popper", Chin stated. "Oh, Steve remarked, he supposed he could handle another story anything was better than looking at….he paled and lay down flat causing Doc to hurry to his side in concern. "Maybe Ms Walsh could come back later gentlemen, Doc hinted , Steve is still recovering." "No I want to know Doc", Steve's determination surged forward again.

"Tell us about it Ms Walsh", Chin Ho prompted the woman.

"George walked into my apartment and held out a beautiful flower. He told me he'd come to see if I was alright. I thought he was so nice, the type of guy I might even want to keep around. I know it was kind of forward and things and I was sick but all that being on my own and ill finally got to me. Leaning forward I kissed George soundly on the lips.

He reared back as though my action had startled him. Then he returned my kiss with a type of fierce passion. I couldn't believe how good that kiss made me feel, it was like my illness just melted away. So I…".Olivia blushed red…"well.. umm… I started to undress". George looked even more surprised and almost afraid, he didn't make any moves to take off his clothes but I guessed maybe he was just shy. So I grabbed his hands

and was going to put them on my….well, Olivia went even redder. "Anyway his hand came out of his pocket carrying this stocking filled with sand. "George what's that", I suddenly felt a little unsure. George sighed deeply, "I'm sorry you had to find out Olivia. Things suddenly came into place for Olivia, she had a lump on her head and now she knew exactly where it had come from.

"Oh no", Olivia found herself being pushed backwards. "Yes sorry honey, but I'm the Popper, I haven't quite filled my quota but you'll help me in that task", he moved closer ,menacing me. "But I liked you George", Olivia couldn't believe she'd made this type of mistake. "So did the others Honey, even the guys, I'm everybody's pal. I'm sorry you found out before we...," George stroked one of her legs but now all she felt was fear. "Get away from me you bastard", Olivia kicked out hard and screamed loudly. All she had got was a laugh. "Most of your neighbours are out sweetie, I promise to make it quick." He raised his arm ready to strike.

At that moment the door burst open and an older oriental man stood with a gun in his hand. "Let her go now", he'd demanded.

George ran toward the detective with an insane grin on his face and the stocking sap held up high, " He ignored my commands to stop so I shot him Steve", Chin reported.

"Is he dead", inquired numbly. Chin nodded solemnly. "I think he knew it was over Steve and he was probably facing a lifetime in jail."

"Bastard took the easy way out", Steve snarled, he had visions of wringing the guys neck himself.

"Yeah Steve but it was lucky I was following him or Olivia would have become his next victim. By the time I'd pulled in the car at the beach all I saw was a figure making for the undergrowth further down. I quickly tooled the car back up and sped to the car park further down. Leaving the car I hurried through the undergrowth after George. He stopped at the store and here I was all prepared to make my arrest. I burst in only to find he'd gone out the other way. Hurriedly I set off after him wondering what he was doing. He was a fair distance ahead when he entered the apartment block where Ms Walsh lives. I got to the lift just in time to watch what level it stopped at.

Then I made my own journey upward. But of course I had no idea where the Popper had gone, until I heard the scream."

Steve nodded. "It really was the dumbest plan I've ever heard, he grumped, Ms Walsh could probably make a complaint against you all for putting her in danger", Steve was damn angry this plan had cost him a detective. "Of course I wouldn't do that, Olivia stated firmly, "he saved my life. I'd have been dead for sure if they hadn't been following George. "Yeah well an APB would have been simpler", Steve wasn't backing off. "Steve, the APB was for George Gardiner but we've just got the kick back from the Poppers prints. He was revealed to be one Joseph Charles who apparently at one time was just an employee of the Hibiscus store. No trace of the real George had been found and we can only assume that Joseph was in a position to assume his life. "

Steve shivered, "Maybe the Popper was responsible for another death before he became a serial killer."

"It's a definite possibility Steve", Kono answered.

Finally it had come to the moment when Steve had to ask the question he'd dreaded.

"What arrangements have you made for Danno's….burial", Steve choked.

Doc, Kono and Chin traded looks. "I thought you told him", Doc accused.

"Told me what", Steve demanded.

For an answer Doc pulled back the curtains around the side of Steve's bed.

Revealed before Steve's eyes was another bed where a very familiar curly headed man was lying.

Steve's eyes looked at the IV line then into Danno's face.

"When I got into the waves I found Danny barely conscious and floundering, Kono reported. His breathing sounded like a rusty door and he looked like he was about to go under any minute."

I grabbed him and hauled him ashore but he was pretty much unconscious and not breathing by the time the ambulance arrived.", Kono's eyes told a story of panic.

"Danny's pneumonia made it hard for him to breath normally and the blow to his head didn't help any, Doc sounded like he'd like to give Danny a good talking to.

"He'll be alright", Steve surveyed his second again. "Yeah Steve, he's going to be on antibiotics for awhile and it will take him awhile to recover but he was damn lucky to survive."

Doc looked at Kono and Chin, We'll let you rest now Steve, buzz if you need anything.

They departed leaving Steve looking at his unconscious second.

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He opened his eyes and looked at the white ceiling. This was not quite what he'd imagined death to be like. "Danno, you awake", a familiar voice called.

He must be dead then for Steve was calling to him. Trust his luck to meet Mc Garrett in the after life now he'd never get any peace.

"Danno", the voice called again more insistently. Danny finally turned his head and looked directly at the bed where Steve lay. "Am I dreaming or just dead", Danny asked tentatively. "Neither Danno, both of us are still very much alive", Steve told him "I thought you were dead though Danno especially when I heard about an important funeral. But Kono told me that was for Lance Davis's son who was a victim of the Popper at the same time as me".Danno what you did has got to be the craziest, dumbest, idiotic, insane… Steve thought up every word he could to describe his displeasure at Dannos plan." Alright Steve, you can stop, Danny stated firmly, I know it was unorthodox but it was they only way I could see of catching the killer."

"Yeah well it did work Danno but don't ever do anything like that again, promise", Steve voice took on a begging quality.

"Alright Steve I promise", Danny smiled at his boss.

"Hawaii this song is dedicated to the team at 5-0 and in particular one Danny Williams whose bravery contributed to sick Hawaiians sleeping safely in their beds."

Danny waited to hear what song he was going to get when with a snap Steve turned off the radio. "Can't have you thinking it was a wonderful plan", Steve growled but there was a sparkle in his eye that contradicted his tone. He was just glad both of them had survived this encounter.

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THE END