Hmmm, just saw the promo for Friday's episode. Spoilers for those who want to be surprised. Seriously? They're having Danny's parents divorce and by the looks of it, his mom is moving to Hawaii? Not sure how I feel about that. It also looked a bit like they were making his mom out to be some vapid ditz. Not to mention that it also looks like another episode centered around the NONEXISTANT McGarrett/Grover bromance. Honestly, I don't mind Grover much, just the fact that the show seems intent on replacing Danno with him. Well, those are just Mitch and I's thoughts anyway. Not sure if we'll be tuning in next season.
Summary: Danny gets taken by pirates and held hostage to be used as leverage against Five-0. Title taken from 1x17, which also happened to be about pirates.
The rolling motion of the boat jostled Danny and he groaned. Feeling sick, he closed his eyes. God, his head hurt. What happened? Oh, right…friggin' pirates. Unlike the jolly caricatures commonly portrayed, these pirates were ruthless mercenaries. Another wave of nausea rolled over him in time with the rocking of the boat. Dimly, he was aware of shouting, but he was too out of it to understand the words. The pain in his head was rising steadily and he wanted nothing more than to block out the loud voices. As he tuned out the noise, he felt himself drifting off. In the back of his mind a voice that sounded suspiciously like Steve's told him to stay awake. Sighing, Danny obeyed the annoying voice, knowing that if he fell asleep with this concussion, he'd probably never wake up. In an effort to rouse himself, he blinked open his unfocused eyes, only to slam them shut a moment later when the bright light around him sent spikes through his brain. Trying to breathe through the white hot pain, Danny heaved in gasps of salty air. Just when he had himself back under control, and shadow fell over him and a hand roughly grabbed his chin. Taking a chance that the blinding light would be blocked, Danny dazedly opened his eyes and found himself face to face with his captor. Despite the dizziness and pain demanding his attention, Danny couldn't help but smirk at the bruises on the man's face. Sure he had been taken eventually, but Danny had put up one hell of a fight. He was pleased to note the damage that one unarmed and outnumbered Jersey detective could dish out.
"Jack, rough him up a bit more. I want to make McGarrett desperate." The man holding his face said over his shoulder. "Don't kill him, though. Not yet." The man released his savage grip and left him at the mercy of Jack, who happened to be a hulking man whose muscles had to be a product of steroids. After that, time passed in a blur of pain and confusion. Blow after blow struck him, causing bones to break and blood to spill over the deck of the boat. When at last the hits stopped coming, Danny sagged back against the railing to which he was tied. Feebly, he clung to consciousness as the world faded in and out. He could hear a voice now, and this time he could make out the words.
"Good, that oughta make him sweat. Rumor has it McGarrett and Williams are like brothers." There was a few minutes of silence, then another voice spoke.
"Camera's ready. Three…two…one." A soft beep, then the man from before began.
"For weeks, you have ignored our requests, Commander. You've left us with no other option. We didn't want it to come to this, but you forced our hand. So, I'm going to ask you one final time. Release the Nautilus and her crew. You have twelve hours. If you fail to comply with our demands, you partner will suffer." The voice was silent for a moment and even Danny's concussed mind could tell that the camera was doing a close up on him. Mustering up all his remaining strength, Danny opened his eyes.
"Don' do it, 'teve. Don' give 'em an'thing." Danny slurred past swollen lips. A brutal kick to the ribs sent him into a painful bought of coughing that sprayed blood into the air.
"Twelve hours, Commander. The choice is yours." There was another soft beep, signaling the end of the video.
"Alright, boss. I'll go send this to McGarrett." That was the last thing Danny heard before everything faded out.
The next thing he was aware of was a wet hand gently tapping his cheeks.
"Danny! Danny, come man, open your eyes." Funny, that sounded like Steve's voice. A drop of water landed on his forehead and he scrunched his eyes shut tighter in annoyance. He just wanted to sleep.
"Steve, how is he?" a woman's voice asked. Kono? Deciding that he should probably try to figure out what was going on, he blearily flickered his eyes open. It was night now, the boat illuminated only by the moon. It took some time for his eyes to focus, but eventually a hazy image formed. Above him, Steve's sopping wet and frantically concerned face hovered.
"Danny? You with me, pal?" Steve asked, voice dripping with worry.
"Where'd I g-go?" Danny managed to ask in a hoarse whisper. Belatedly, Danny realized that Steve was in a wetsuit. "Why wet?" Steve laughed a little.
"I'll explain later, okay Danno? Right now we need to get you off this boat to a hospital."
"P-pirates." Danny mumbled, closing his eyes.
"I know, but we got them. You're safe now. We got them. You just stay awake for me, alright? A med-evac chopper's on its way."
"Mmmpppphhh…" Danny groaned, giving into the pull of darkness around him.
"Hey hey hey, come on. Open your eyes Danny. No sleepin' yet." Steve said, lightly tapping Danny's cheeks.
"So tired."
"I know, Danny. Talk to me. Tell me where you're hurt."
"'m 'urt?"
"Yes, you're hurt. Come on, tell me where so I can help you."
"H-head, I think…ribs maybe."
"Good, you're doing so good, Danno. Just hang on a little longer. I can hear the chopper."
"Don' give 'em anything…" Danny whispered.
"I didn't, man, don't you worry." That was all Danny needed to hear. Despite Steve's pleas, Danny allowed himself to close his eyes and let the blackness take him.
H
5
0
"I dunno. He took a helluva beating, so it's no surprise that he's still out of it."
"I know, it's just…I hate seeing him so still. It's not right."
"I agree. I don't like it when he gets quiet. When he passed out on the boat I honestly thought we were gonna lose him."
"Yeah, the way his pulse and breathing just dropped scared me half to death." Familiar voices floated through the haze of unconsciousness, pulling Danny gently to the surface. With awareness, came pain. Nothing terrible, just a dull ache…everywhere, really. After a while, his brain provided the names that went with the voices ad he smiled.
"How's a guy 'sposed to get any rest 'round here with all you guys talking the whole time."
"Danny!"
"Danny!"
"Danno!" three voiced exclaimed simultaneously. Steve's haggard, but smiling face was the first to greet him.
"Hey man, how ya feelin'?" he asked, smiling in his usual goofy manner.
"Okay, I guess. How long've I been out?"
"Four days, brah. You done scaring us now?" Chin said, sitting on the edge of Danny's bed.
"Yeah, you really need to cut back on the near death experiences." Kono added.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to." Danny apologized genuinely.
"It's alright, Danny. It's not your fault. I mean, come on. Pirates. What're ya gonna do?" Steve offered with a shrug.
"Pirates." Danny muttered bitterly.
"Pirates." Chin and Kono agreed in unison.
"So…you gonna explain why you were all wet?" Danny asked Steve. They all laughed.
"I'm surprised you remembered that. You barely coherent enough to talk. I was wet because I had to swim to the boat they were holding you on. It was the only way to get close enough without them noticing. Once I had taken out the leader, Chin and Kono came up on their own boat and we took out the rest. They are currently awaiting trial with their friends from the Nautilus."
"Good. S'where they belong." Danny said, happy to know that they couldn't hurt anyone anymore. There was a moment of silence, then Steve spoke, softer than before.
"I'm glad you're okay, Danny. When I saw that video, I…let's just say I don't think I'll ever get that image out of my mind."
"Sorry, babe. You shouldn't have had to see it. You've seen enough already."
"Come's with the job. If I don't do it, who will?"
"You're not in this alone, ya know." Danny remarked. "How many times do we have to pound this into your thick skull. We are a team. Your burdens, our burdens. Got it?" Steve smiled at Danny.
"Thanks, Danno."
Well, there goes another little one shot for ya'll. I'll update my other fics as soon as I have time :)