Chapter 9 – The end of a lifetime


I know I probably sound like a broken record so far, but credit has to be given when it's due.

I wrote the second half of this chapter, e.g. Melissa's arrest before I even had chapter 2 ready, and I sent that scene to Prae, she said she liked it, but to make Danny stronger, and I did. Thank ya', fan fic crime partner for that. Also her idea for the flight to be to L.A. (my choice of the airport, lol).


Melissa didn't lose any time after the incident in the hospital. She got her proof that Danny was in a relationship with Steve, and that he was fooling around. Probably what got him a divorce from his ex-wife.

After getting a room in a motel where no questions were asked, she spend the whole day thinking about what her next action would be. First, she had to lay low for a couple of days, let the HPD and the Five-0 fuss over the case, see the trail is getting cold and then proceed.

Melissa already had a name in mind, the same person that helped her when she needed a new identity when she escaped Frank. She picked up the landline phone and dialed a number with the Queens prefix.

"Hello?"

"Mark, is that you?"

"Depends on who wants to talk."

"It's Melissa. Melissa Armstrong. I need a favor."


It was well before a week that Mark Sellers managed to get the documents to Melissa via cargo mail. The escape took some time planning, but it worked the first time, why shouldn't it work a second time?

The fake passport and ID were on the name of Bethany Morris, coupled with social security number and a credit card on the same name.

Melissa checked the flights that were leaving Honolulu to a place no one would even think to look for her as she skimmed over the flights and the destinations. She needed to board on the first available flight with one ticket to freedom where abusive ex-husbands and lying boyfriends did not exist.

She exhaled as she clicked on one of the appealing destinations and booked a flight.

A flight departing Honolulu International Airport at 11 a.m. to Hollywood Burbank Airport in Los Angeles, 10th of March. After L. A. she'd disappear off to a place and never get back "home" before.


Officer Pua Kai was rounding the perimeter of Honolulu International on March 25th, around 10 a.m. when he noticed something that seemed oddly familiar. To be exact, he saw someone that seemed familiar.

After all he worked years in security before he joined HPD and he had a knack for details and spotting shady people on the cameras. He seemed to transfer that knowledge when he was patrolling to detect suspects easier. It proved to be the right approach.

He kept his eyes sharp and trained on said someone when he saw the girl moving around the chairs in the waiting lounge. She held herself stiffly, tried to avoid glances and seemed to evade the cameras that were placed in the corners of the ceiling. It set off the alarm bells in his head.

Pua couldn't seem to place the face with a name. It finally came to him as the girl with long blonde hair turned around.

Even with the cap and the choice of clothes, there was no mistake when he took a good look of her face. It was without a doubt a person of interest for the Five-0 Task Force. As he noticed her sitting in one of the chairs, he made sure she didn't spot him. The last thing Pua wanted to do was to spook her before he got to warn the Five-0 and call in reinforcements.


The call got through Kono, because she was Pua's first choice when calling the team. She smiled as she saw the ID. The guy was persistent, and seemed to still have the crush on her.

But her smile faltered as she listened to what he had to say over the phone. Kono knew that after last week's events with Melissa, both Steve and Danny were sensitive about that topic, but this required their attention and she waved at them to join her at the tech table, as well as Chin and Lou.

Kono put Pua on speakerphone and as he relayed the information, Steve barked orders for Pua to call Duke and to send backup. With strict orders to detain Melissa, without spooking her.

Steve then ventured in Danny's office, much to Danny's dismay and snatched the Camaro's keys. It was a long week and then some without being able to drive, but he said to himself he would listen to the doctor's orders considering his concussion. With requirements to not drive for a week.

Danny riled him up because of it, but Steve let it slide because Danny was injured. Twice in the span of a week, and twice too much for Steve's liking. But, it seemed like he healed up nicely, with the occasional twinge or pull of the muscle that was painful. He was on desk duty until he was healed completely, but Steve couldn't just leave Danny behind in this case.

So, desk duty be damned, this was personal and if he was going to be there when Melissa got arrested, then so would Danny.

"Let's go, partner." He called after the blonde that looked at him with quizzical expression, but followed, nonetheless.


Melissa was getting restless by the time 10:45 a.m. arrived. It was another 15 minutes before her flight, and she was already fed up by waiting and having to actually go through ticket check and boarding seemed like hell. But, she had to suck it up, and do it as it should be, without drawing too much attention to herself.

This was the last stop before she left her past behind her for good.

What she didn't notice were the two uniformed officers that approached the line of seats in the waiting lounge she occupied.

When her name was being called, she instinctively looked up and she was met with the sight that she least wanted to see. She was busted.


Steve broke every traffic law there was to break on his way to Honolulu International Airport, making Danny grip the door handle like his life depended on it. He had a retort ready at the roof of his tongue, but he could see Steve was as tense as much as he was.

The moment they parked at the terminal, Steve was out like a lightning, Danny hot on his heels, following Steve's lead.

Danny was faced with Melissa again, and the sight of the two officers trying to wrestle her into a pair of cuffs. She stopped resisting when she laid eyes on Danny and Steve.

Danny halted in his tracks and as Steve turned to see where Danny was, he saw the fear that was in Danny's eyes not so long ago. He motioned for Danny with his head to join him. Steve's gaze held that of Danny's as he silently told Danny that he'd be with him the whole time and that he'd protect him. Danny tried to say the same to Steve.

Silently, Danny approached Steve, but he stayed couple of inches behind him, letting Steve to take the lead as always.

There was a stare down of epic proportions when neither of the two sides let go of their ground. Danny was listing towards Steve, too overwhelmed by Melissa's presence and the hate in her eyes. But Danny could also see a glimpse of that hate directed at him, too, not just at Steve. And damn right, he is scared.

Steve reached for Danny then. Danny felt the vicelike grip Steve's hand had on his bicep as that touch alone ground him and allowed Danny to get back to track, which was difficult.


Melissa's eyes were cold and that made Danny shiver and tuck himself in further in Steve's grasp. As if Steve felt what went through Danny, he tightened the grip he had around the detective, silently offering the support Danny needed. The support they both needed.

"Well look what the cat dragged in. Danny Williams that is so weak and pathetic. You couldn't even face me alone, could you, Danny? You had to get your partner here, too. Actually I think you are like a personal dog of yours, he just waggles his tail and you follow him everywhere. Isn't that right, partner?"

She spit the word partner like she was expelling bile from her throat. It felt bitter and sharp.

"What happened to you, Melissa?"

"What happened to me? Are you kidding me, right now? What happened is that my ex-boyfriend wasn't man enough to stand up for his girlfriend when she needed that. And screwed around behind her back."

"I think we discussed it already... I-"

"No, Danny, you discussed it. I was never a factor in that decision. You never thought of me in the process. All you did was to protect your own ass and the ass of your boyfriend."

"That's where you are wrong. I was thinking about you the whole time. And I did the right thing. Steve had nothing to do with it, and you deliberately created some imaginary world in your head that I was with him, not even hearing the facts."

"Yeah. I'm sure you did. You let your lovely partner here to convince you to testify against your girlfriend and you did. Like you always do. Following around his orders. You do that in bed, too, baby?"

The slight change of sharp to seductively sultry tone in Melissa's voice, chilled Danny to his very core and he instinctively stepped back, afraid he may do something he'll regret.

How dare she?

"Hey, that's enough. Get her out of our sight!" Steve barked as two HPD officers hauled Melissa in the waiting Impala.

Steve felt Danny tense beside him and the next thing he knew was Danny swaying and him trying to prevent Danny from crashing face down.

Steve enveloped Danny in a tight hug, feeling the tension coming off in waves from Danny's body and his erratic heartbeat against him.

"Take me home, Steve. Just take me home." His partner was whispering and pleading.

"You got it, buddy. You got it."


Melissa struggled against the officers that tried to place the handcuffs on her wrists. She elbowed one of the officers in the chest, while her fist connected with the other's nose. She noticed Danny and Steve hugging and heard what Danny said to Steve about taking him home. She went livid.

What had McGarrett, she didn't have?

She leaped and practically tore Danny off McGarrett's grasp. She wheeled Danny to face her.

The look she saw in his eyes, the pure and sheer fear almost made her back away. Almost.

"What's going on with you Danny? Why can't you be a man just once in your life?"

"What's up with you and me being a man, Melissa?"

"Don't you feel the need to just hit me once, for what I've done to you? Instead you are hiding behind your boyfriend..." she purred the last part.

"Seriously, you are touched in your head. He is not my boyfriend. He is my best friend. And back off, before I show you the man as you asked so nicely." Danny was Jersey tough, after all, he could handle Melissa.

Danny could feel Steve tensing behind him and preparing for a battle.

"Yeah, I'm sure you would." She slapped him then. All her strength in it. And then again. On the third time, Danny caught her wrist and deflected her impending attack. She freed herself again in a similar way with elbowing him, but it wasn't long before he had her arm behind her back and pining her against the car's trunk. His right shoulder screamed at him as the stitches were pulled by the sudden movement.

"Do you really want this, Melissa? Do you?!" Danny screamed the last part, not caring if anyone heard him.

He let go of her arm and turned her around his hands on her biceps, squeezing enough to leave bruises.

"I understand you were abused by Frank. I understand it took you a lot of courage to divorce him and come here to start fresh. I understand what you did back in the house, you were trying to save me, but the moment you ran him over it was over for you. He would have gotten in jail for attacking us and attempt of murder on a police officer. There was a legal way of ending it Melissa. And if you think I will become like him, then you are dead wrong. I can hit you right now and prove it to you I'm not like him. I was taught to respect women, not beat and belittle them. But if you are a perp, then woman or not, I'm ready to kick your ass. Wanna try and continue to fight me so I can show you that, or we can end this here now. What's it gonna be?"

Danny's fingers dug deeper in Melissa's arms and he was aware it must be painful, it ate him up he had to do it. But, she was used to violence and if she wanted that he'd provide it to prove his point.

He didn't break the eye contact, feeling Steve closing in, ready to step in if Danny crossed the line, simultaneously knowing he wouldn't.

Melissa crashed in that moment. Lowered her gaze as tears flowed freely down her cheeks and realization dawned on her that she may have ruined the best thing that happened to her after Frank. Blinded by the rage and fury and those crazy thoughts Danny was screwing Steve.

What have I done? Run as an echo in her head, over and over again.

Danny pulled Melissa in a gentle embrace and let her take it out.


Steve noticed Danny was dozing off in the passenger seat as he drove them to his place. Danny was still not at his 100% and neither was he, but Steve was intent on making Danny feeling better, foregoing the need of taking care for himself, too.

Something that Danny would call self-sacrificing goofy idiot. And he was right.

Steve figured that right now, the last thing Danny would want to see is his house. Plus, he wanted to keep a close eye on his best friend. Danny was rattled and after the emotional outburst that happened not even half an hour ago, Steve's worry ramped up a notch.

There was so much going on between the two lately, they didn't had much time to talk it over, except apologies and reassurances whispered in a second of a moment. That had to change.

Unconsciously Steve reached for Danny and squeezed his shoulder. Danny blearily looked at him and smiled. A tired and tortured smile, but Steve couldn't help himself and smiled back.

"You are going to be alright, Danno." Steve reassured. All he could do now.

"I know. But, it's hard."

"I know it is, believe me." And boy, did he know.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being there for me. I'm not sure I would have been able to face her alone. You were there. And grounded me. You are always there when I need you. I'm sorry I'm such a needy person these days."

"You are not. Believe me I've seen needy. And you are not. It's natural to want to have someone to rely on in tough situations. If you didn't, now that would have worried me more."

"Yep, scary thing if I lose my mind, God forbid."

"Touché, partner."

They both laughed as the tension between them lessened and they arrived at Steve's place.

By the time they reached the door, Danny was so tired he required Steve to help him to walk to the couch.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay."

"Are you sure, Danno?"

"Yes. Quit worrying."

"How about we put you into a proper bed? You need rest and with you pulling on your stitches- Don't give me that pout."

Danny's face fell.

"-I don't want to risk the couch."

"You really know how to sweet talk a guy into bed, Steve."

"Only you, Danno, I use more subtle techniques with others."

Danny snorted at Steve's remark and let himself be hauled off the couch and some minutes later he was resting in Steve's bedroom.

"Sleep all you want, I'll be right here in the house. Yell if you need anything."

"Will do, babe."

"I was thinking, are you up to going out tonight?"

"Why?"

"Well since you said one time, not long ago, we haven't hung out in a while, and I was thinking, if you like, maybe we can go out tonight, friends having some fun time together."

Danny gave it a thought and nodded tiredly.

"I like the idea."

"We can call our ohana if you want."

"Nope. Just you and me."

"It's a deal."

Steve tucked Danny in and stayed until he heard soft snores, satisfied his partner was safe and sound.

...