Hiya, I'm back! With internet thank goodness! I really missed you guys but luckily I had a tonne of time to kill between lessons and stuff, mainly because my accommodation was off site so I only got a coach back at 10pm- which is very late for me-so I managed to write a lot. It was fun and very educational overall though nothing beats home. I was touched by all the lovely messages from all you guys, I genuinely got tearful so this is for all of you, the longest chapter yet and hopefully one of the most dramatic. Please review!
Danny almost laughed out loud "You don't, but I think I do."
"No Danny, this is ridiculous!" Kono yelled loudly, frustration evident in her voice.
Danny stamped his foot impatiently; looking more like a child having a tantrum than he had obviously originally intended.
"This is Steve's life we're talking about! He's hurt and in trouble! I know he's heading toward the other island!"
Chin sighed sadly, wandering whether he should get involved. They were in the main room of HQ, staring down at a satellite image of the wreck site and a small island-commonly known to the locals as 'Make'aina' or 'The Dead island'- on the screen of the interactive table. Orange arrows glowed on the surface of the blue ocean, clearly indicating the flow of the current and its transection directly through their sunken crime scene-though Chin personally hated calling it that-and toward the shore of the nearby land mass before it faded into the rest of the water.
If Chin chose one of his colleagues side's as oppose to the other he knew that thought the decision would have been made, he would be isolating the opposition who would surely accuse him of betrayal whichever way he went. Not only that but it could be that his boss's and his close friend's life that rested on Chin's judgement. Focus all rescue all rescue attempts on and around that island, or continue the wide spread search? Danny's idea was plausible but it was based on some kind of miraculous vision he had whilst in a concussed slumber, whereas Kono was adamant that they continue searching the deeper water which would inevitably use up precious time, resources and manpower. Time Steve may not have. It would be naïve and useless to just pray they stumbled upon him in time. This was assuming Steve was even alive of course. Chin had seen the ex-SEAL do amazing things, survive perilous danger with barely a scratch and a mad smile plastered on his face. But even he wasn't impervious to explosions, or falling debris, or drowning; no matter how invincible he made himself appear. The likelihood of Steve still being alive was, in itself, an entirely new debate.
Kono placed her hands firmly on her hips "This is based on some dream you had whilst lying on your couch with a head injury!"
"I know what I saw!" Danny exclaimed passionately, "It wasn't a dream! I know the difference between dream and reality, thank you!"
"Danny!" Kono shouted furiously, glaring at him darkly and stepping forwards menacingly.
Chin raised his eyebrows as Danny didn't back off and instead stared back at her with equal fury, the heat practically radiating off them like two nuclear reactors on the verge of exploding. To be honest Chin just wanted to knock their heads together; this wasn't getting them anywhere and just driving them apart but he still remained silent. Finally realising her intimidation tactic wasn't working, Kono took a second to take a deep breath and collect herself before continuing more softly.
"Look…I know it's hard Danny-it is for all of us-but you just have to face the facts and accept that Steve isn't com-"
"No."
Danny and Kono both spun round to face Chin, as if only just realising he was actually there in the room with them, Danny's mouth still opened ready to interrupt Kono as well but silenced by Chin's outburst.
"Excuse me?" Kono asked in disbelief, her voice quiet and eyes wide in surprise.
"I said no, Kono." Chin said calmly, his voice impassive as he looked at her "Steve's not dead."
"Thank you!" Danny screamed slightly gleefully, turning back to Kono but gesturing with one hand at Chin.
Kono didn't bother hiding the hurt in her voice "You don't believe this do you Chin?"
Chin kept his face as straight as possible so she could not see the uncertainty now welling within him.
"If Danny said he saw Steve, he saw Steve. I'm sorry cuz, but I don't doubt it for a second."
Danny remained silent this time, raising his eyebrows in a half-confused, half-touched expression and watching Kono's reaction nervously. Kono now narrowed her eyes at Chin the fury smouldering in her dark pupils and burning into Chin's heart and they conveyed her thoughts: traitor. Chin was a traitor. Her own cousin didn't back her up.
"Fine!" Kono roared crossly, throwing her hands up in acquiescence, "But don't get me involved, it's bad enough trying to deal with Steve's death without you guys creating stupid stories!"
With tears in her eyes, Kono spun around; briskly jogging through the glass doors and disappeared from sight. When Chin glanced back to Danny it wasn't hard to notice the slight wetness of his eyes and the pure devastation concealed in his features.
"Brah?" Chin asked kindly, stepping toward his friend and placing what he hoped was a comforting hand on the man's shoulder.
Danny lowered his gaze to the floor and sagged slightly "I thought she was going to help…but now I feel even more uncertain about this than before."
Chin moved to speak but suddenly Danny turned to Chin and captured his gaze, staring directly into his eyes.
"What if I doom Steve to die? What if Kono is right and this is all some silly, desperate illusion I've made up to make myself feel better?"
"You won't, brah." Chin reassured gently, squeezing Danny's shoulder affectionately "We are going to find Steve and you are going to be the one that helped us save him."
For a second Danny stayed frozen in place, just processing Chin's words, then opened his arms in obvious invitation. Chin smiled and pulled him into the tight, brotherly embrace, giving him a quick pat on the back before separating.
"Do you think Kono and I are really friends? Do I really know her in the light?" Danny questioned cautiously, grimacing when he saw Chin flinch slightly at the inquiry.
"I think…" Chin paused, savouring his next words carefully "I think that you're both stressed about this. Kono has dealt with these kinds of missing persons before and knows how they normally end. She just doesn't want to be crushed if it…doesn't turn out as we hoped."
Danny nodded his understanding and turned back to the interactive table, carefully running his hand over the image and zooming in on the small island and a few miles of the surrounding ocean. His entire posture changed as he became determined and professional, acting like nothing had happened.
"So what do we know about this area?"
Chin joined him, analysing the map "Well Make'aina' doesn't have many inhabitants…maybe fifty currently but they all live on the west side of the island near the only fresh water spring."
Chin pointed at the area, pinpointing the small settlement and the nearby spring. Danny leant over further and scrutinised it closely but said nothing.
"The people are rather superstitious and dislike strangers but won't refer anyone in need of help. Very few know the island as well as them, due to their living-off-the-land tradition…save of course the pirates."
Danny looked up in surprise and frowned at Chin "Wait…pirates? Like 'argh-me-hearties-slit-your-throat-with-a-cutlass' pirates?"
"Not exactly," Chin chuckled in amusement, glad to forget the circumstances of their conversation "Their profits are mainly based on smuggling and human trafficking. The island has easy access to some major shipping lines and is a great hiding spot for both themselves and their illegal merchandise. There are hundreds of cave systems under the surface; it's like a maze down there."
"You've been there?"
"With HPD. They've had numerous operations to try and take these guys down but they're slippery and distrustful, so undercover stings are impossible. These guys are violent and dangerous; we've lost a lot of good cops trying to take them down. They have a barrage of powerful weaponry supplied from dealers across the world."
Danny chewed on his bottom lip nervously "What would happen if they caught McGarrett?"
"Depends," Chin shrugged, brow creasing in vexation as scenarios played in his mind "They could kill him, or sell him off as some kind of slave if they have a buyer already lined up, or worse of all, if someone recognises him he could be sold to one of his numerous enemies; a lot of them will at least have contacts in such a large, worldwide organisation."
The look of worry escalated on Danny's face as Chin spoke and Chin hated the fact that he was the one who had to be the pessimist and deliver the terrible news.
"Danny…if Steve gets captured and they take him off the island and out of the country…there's a good chance we'll never see him again."
"Then we won't let them," Danny declared firmly "Steven J. McGarrett is not escaping this pineapple infested hellhole without me."
The island isn't real, I made it up because it was a lot easier so sorry if the name and geographical positioning is wrong. I hope this wasn't too OOC but please tell me if you like the closeness and the tension between them or if you feel they would act a little differently.