So sorry for the delay. The weekend was a blur. Weekends are not long enough and I'd like to get the name of the person who decided we should all work 5 days on with 2 off. Why didn't that person decide on 3 off and 4 on? Be patient, conversations are coming...


Steve gently stopped the Camaro and turned off the ignition. The doctor had let Danny go a bit earlier than they thought he'd be released.

Danny had fallen asleep after getting settled in the car and had napped the entire drive. Getting out of the car, Steve walked up to the front door and unlocked it then turned off the alarm. Going back to the car he opened the passenger door and laid a hand on Danny's shoulder.

"Danny, we're here." Steve said giving him a soft shake. "Come on, let's get you in the house."

Sleepy blue eyes opened and looked around. "Oh, sorry, didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

"That's what you're supposed to do, but how about in the guest room or the couch?" Steve chuckled.

Danny got out of the car, yawned and stretched. "You're going to have to tell me again, what happened. I don't think I got the entire story."

Standing close in case Danny needed help, the two friends walked into the living room. Danny immediately headed towards the bathroom. "Think I'll wash up a bit. Maybe I'll feel more alive." he said.

Steve walked to the kitchen and grabbed a few bottles of water. While there, he called Chin.

"Hey Chin, anything yet?" Steve asked then listened to Chin's reply. "No cams anywhere near it?"

"No, but the owner was at the grill and he remembers that couple, basically because they didn't buy anything." Chin said. "He was busy trying to get orders finished but said that the man tripped a little as he was walking by, but as he was recovering his balance kind of threw his arm out to the side like to steady himself. He was actually was afraid that the man's hand might land on the hot grill top.

"So he must have sprinkled something over the food as he went past it." Steve mused.

"Steve, Duke called me earlier and said they had another mild case over at Wahiawa General Hospital. A woman ate there yesterday afternoon about the same time you and Danny were there. She remembered seeing the police cruiser picking up the purse snatcher." Chin told him. "She had a grilled cheese sandwich though. She went in around midnight with some of the same symptoms that Danny had but was released this morning.

Steve thought back. "There was a light breeze blowing yesterday afternoon so when he sprinkled the powder on the burger, some must have either landed on the grill top and transferred to her sandwich or the wind just caught some of it."

"So do you think this was random or Danny was the intended target?" Chin questioned.

"I think it sounds intentional. We need to figure out who this couple is and their connection is to Danny. Alright, why don't you and Kono go home and we'll start again tomorrow." He told Chin.

"Are you still at the hospital?" Chin asked. "There's something we need to talk to you about."

"No, we just got to my place. The doctor wanted someone to keep an eye on him." Steve said distracted as he was making Danny a glass of iced tea.

"And you're at your home now?" Chin said in surprise as he shot Kono a look. "Hey Steve, you know how Danny hates listening to the surf. Why don't you bring him to my house? He'd probably sleep better."

"Thanks for the offer, but since we don't know where that couple is, I'm going to keep an eye on him. I'll see you in the morning." Steve hung up the phone before Chin could say another word. Walking back to the living room he turned on the television and found a baseball game they could watch. When Danny came back, he settled down on the recliner and laid it back. Soon he was softly snoring again.

Turning down the volume, Steve watched the game for a while, then grinning at the light snores rising from the sleeping man, went into the kitchen to start dinner. He had fixed a salad, set some plates on the table and was laying some corn on the cob on the warm grill when Danny appeared.

"Hey," the blond said while stiffing a yawn. "Why didn't you wake me earlier and I could have helped?"

"You needed your beauty sleep." Steve teased. "The doctor said you are just supposed to rest. How are you feeling now?"

"Good. Like normal. I'm so glad that dizziness has stopped." Danny said sitting down. "Now tell me again, what happened?"

"The lunch we had yesterday? The one that was interrupted by the young purse snatcher? He actually saved your life." Steve paused before he delivered the news. "The guy that ate your burger died last night." Giving Danny a moment to take in the news he said quietly, "He died of cyanide poisoning. You only received a mild dose since all you ate was a bite."

Danny was upset at the thought of the homeless man dying when he was the intended victim. "Damn." Putting his head in his hands he ran his hand though his hair. "What was it you said? That was my good deed?"

"Danny, you can't blame yourself." Steve said trying to comfort him. "It's not your fault. Neither one of us had any idea something like that would ever happen."

Looking up, Danny asked "Did he have any family?"

"No. His friend said that he never married and there weren't any other family members. He was in the Air Force so he's going to be cremated and his ashes spread off shore in a military ceremony. It's what his friend said he wanted."

"Excuse me a minute. There's, uh something in the Camaro I need to get." Danny said getting up and leaving the room.

Steve knew the news would disturb Danny but hoped this wouldn't cause any setbacks in his recovery. Believing that Danny was the target, Steve was hesitant to let him out of his sight. But understanding that his friend needed a minute alone, Steve turned down the grill then went out front to the car. Danny was standing with his hands flat on the hood of the car staring off into the distance.

Approaching quietly, Steve asked him, "Danno? You alright?"

Danny couldn't believe she'd go this far. Trying to scare him away was one thing, but murder? Did she really hate him that much that she'd try to kill him? How was he ever going to tell Steve what his mother had done? He decided that after they ate he'd tell Steve the truth, even though he knew how much it would hurt. Hearing Steve's question he straightened up and he sighed. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine."

"Come on, let's get something in you. You haven't eaten all day." Touching Danny shoulder, Steve squeezed lightly.

Several hours after eating, they were in the living room watching another ball game. Danny decided now was the right time to admit what was happening and his suspicions.

"Steve, there's something I need to talk to you about." Suddenly the rumble of the Silverado sounded on the driveway. Seconds later the door opened and Doris appeared.

"Mom?" Glancing quickly at Danny, Steve turned to his mother. "I thought you said you were going to Maui for a few days?"

Danny was staring at the television, but sat up straighter and his hand gripped the bottle of water a little tighter.

Doris looked at Steve then glared somewhere in the vicinity where Danny sat. "I was, son. But my friend came down sick so I decided to come back. You don't mind do you? Oh hello, Detective. You look so comfortable in Jack's favorite chair."

"Mom, Danny was poi..." Steve began but Danny interrupted.

"Yes, it is a comfortable chair. I'm going to have to go get one for myself." he said giving Steve a look that clearly said to drop it. Leaning forward he sat the bottle down on the coffee table.

"Steve, when I was coming through town, I had the taxi go past the office and noticed your truck there but everyone gone, so I drove it home for you." Doris said.

"Um, thanks but you didn't need to." Steve said. "Danny's spending the night in the guest room so he could have given me a ride to get it in the morning."

"Oh, is this like a slumber party?" Doris asked . "Boys night in? How cute. Well, I'm going upstairs to change, then grab a bite to eat."

After she left the room, Steve turned apologetically to his friend. "Sorry, Danny. She told me she was going to be gone. I know she makes you uncomfortable."

"It's alright Steve." Danny said while thinking to himself that he wished his partner wouldn't always feel so guilty when Doris was around. Danny felt guilty himself wishing the woman would have stayed dead. No child should ever have to go through what Steve and Mary had then or now. And now he would have to tell his best friend that his mother was so low that she'd attempt murder. In trying to protect Steve's feelings a man had lost his life and Danny would carry the responsibility for not saying anything.

Minutes later Doris reappeared with a twenty-dollar bill in her hand. "Steve, honey, I felt like a pizza. Would you be a dear and go pick it up for me? It's just at that little place ten minutes away but their driver is out and it'd be an hour before he could get back and deliver it. Oh and I left the keys in your truck so you might as well take it. And since it's rather warm out tonight, why don't you pick up some ice cream at that little store you pass on the way."

"Uh, I guess." Steve frowned then added, "Come on, Danny. You can tell me whatever you wanted to talk about on the way. "

"Oh, he can stay there." Doris said quickly. "He looks tired. Don't you get enough rest, Daniel?"

Warning bells were going off in Danny, but curious to see what Doris might say, he nodded at Steve and told him to go.

Steve hesitated but left. As soon as she heard the truck pull away, Doris sat down and grabbed a magazine. Finding an article, she started to read then spoke aloud. "Oh, isn't this sad."

Wishing he was anywhere but here, Danny wanted to face Doris but knew he didn't have any evidence against her. Not caring if he sounded rude, he answered. "What?"

"Well it says here that children of divorced parents are often so affected by the divorce that they turn paranoid and clingy." Doris answered. "They can end up very insecure and normally have problems later in life with trust issues since it's usually one parent that leaves. Isn't that the saddest thing?"

Danny gritted his teeth and didn't answer.

Doris knew she'd hit a nerve and pressed home. "Your daughter seems a bit, um, insecure, don't you think? I mean I've only seen her a few times, but she acted like she was afraid you might...disappear." Doris went on flipping pages.

Danny's head snapped up when Doris spoke that last word. You haven't got any proof. Keep your mouth shut until you do. Danny thought to himself as his hands curled into fists at his sides.

"She's a beautiful little girl, though. It'd be such a shame if she is. Sometimes as young adults, girls end up falling in with the wrong sort of people and get into all sorts of problems, like drugs or getting pregnant. I mean, you know how much little girls need their daddies around. I think it would be such a shame if she ended up with a baby before she even graduated." Doris continued twisting the knife where she knew it hurt most.

Danny would always feel guilty that he didn't do more to keep his marriage together, but by the time he realized Rachel resented his job so much she wanted a divorce, they were already strained. Losing her hurt, but it was nothing compared to the emptiness he felt not being able to see Grace daily. Quickly, pushing the chair back into the upright position he forgot about being polite or taking it easy. Nobody was going to talk about Grace this way.

"Look, Doris, my daughter doesn't have any problems and she's also none of your business, so I'd appreciate you keeping your mouth shut. And as far one parent leaving and causing insecurities and trust issues, you don't need to look any further than your own two kids." he spat out.

"Well! I was just trying to be helpful. No need to bite my head off." Doris said looking shocked. Several seconds of silence passed before she spoke again. "It's warm out tonight. Normally the weather here is so nice, but sometimes I think places like Chicago or even Utah would be a good place to work, don't you? I hear they also have very good burger joints. That's your favorite, isn't it? Cheeseburgers?" Looking at Danny she had a sick smile on her face.

Danny stood up. "I can't believe you just admitted to that. What the hell is wrong with you?" he said his voice getting louder as he spoke. "Do you realize an innocent man died last night from that poison? Are you so insane to murder somebody?"

"Admit what? I didn't admit anything. And it's not like you have any proof anyway. We're excellent at what we do and how we do it, you know. And about what's wrong with me? Nothing, but Steve has a problem. And it's you." Doris said in a venomous voice. "You are holding him back. If you weren't around, he'd take my advice and phone the Agency. He's already guaranteed a job there. If you want what is best for him career wise and your daughter to grow up with her father around, you'll leave. One way or another." Doris dropped the magazine and stood up. Pointing her finger towards the front door she demanded, "Now get out of my house."

"I haven't said anything to Steve because you're right, I don't have any proof and I didn't want to hurt him." Danny replied loudly. "But one way or another you're going to. And when he figures it out, he's going to hate you. Is that what you want? You've already screwed both Steve and Mary out of their childhood, you want to destroy them even more? They would have been better off if you'd really been blown up."

Doris stared at Danny with hate. Suddenly her hand flew out and slapped him hard across the face. Danny started forward then stopped. Putting a hand against his cheek he turned and started towards the door.

"I'm his mother, come back from the grave." Doris shrieked wildly. "He might be angry for a while, but he'll eventually see that I've got his best interests at heart."

"You're sick." Danny yelled as he walked out the door and to the Camaro. "And this isn't done yet."

Getting into his car he turned the key and pulling into the street, let the car do what it did best as he floored the gas pedal and sped off.

Doris just smiled and agreed. "You're right. It's not over yet."