Ok, I feel really bad. It's been almost a month since I've updated this one. But I promise that I won't start another story until this one's finished so it will have my undivided attention! Sorry for the wait!
Steve winced as he lowered himself gingerly into the wheelchair without complaint, a testament to how much pain he was in.
"You alright, babe?" Danny asked, helping Steve to sit.
"Yeah…yeah, I'm good." Danny snorted.
"You, my friend, have a very warped definition of good. Come on, I got our ride waiting for us." Danny said as he pushed the chair out of Steve's room and through the hospital halls. When they reached the sidewalk, they were greeted by an excited hand waving out of the window of a bright yellow cab. Helping Steve up, Danny supported his friend as they made their way over to the vehicle.
"Signore McGarrett! You don't a look so good!" Niccolo exclaimed, jumping out to get the door.
"Eh, it's nothin', Nic." Steve said with a smile and a dismissive wave of his hand. Niccolo arched an eyebrow as Danny climbed in next to Steve.
"I'm sure. Where to, Signore Williams?"
"Drop me off at the precinct, Nic."
"And then I'll go to the hotel and touch base with Chin and Kono." Steve added. Both Nic and Danny shook their heads.
"No can do, Signore."
"What? Why not?" Steve asked.
"Steve, let's not forget that you were just kidnapped by the Manzettis. I want you somewhere safe and Nic has so kindly offered up his home to you." Danny said, smiling at his Italian friend.
"Danny said he no want my family in danger, but I insist! He protect my family, so I protect his. We have guest bedroom and my wife take good care of you, Signore!"
"Do I get a say in this?"
"Nope. I already had your stuff moved out of the hotel while you were asleep." Danny said as they arrived at the precinct. "I'll check in later. Try to get some rest. Nic, make sure Rambo here doesn't try to make a run for it."
"You have my word, Signore!" Nic assured him as he drove off with a rather sulky Steve. Chuckling softly to himself, Danny went inside. Within seconds, Miller was running up to him.
"Heya, Danny. How's Steve?"
"Sore, but he'll be fine. We got anything on Manzetti yet?"
"No, but Flaherty wanted to know when you got here. C'mon, he's in his office." Flaherty was seated at his desk, typing something into his phone when they entered his office. Taking in the harsh lines and pale skin of his friend's face, he wondered if the stress of this case was starting to get to the man. After he finished sending off a text, he set down his phone and motioned Danny to sit down.
"Hey, kid. McGarrett alright?"
"Yeah, he'll be okay." Danny said distractedly. "Any leads?"
"Nothing. Not a damn word from any of the CIs and the surveillance tapes from the jail got us nowhere." Flaherty replied dismally.
"I think we should go back to the hospital and have a word with Joey." Danny said after a moment.
"You really think he's gonna tell us anything?" Flaherty asked skeptically.
"I don't know, but it's all we got right now."
"It's worth a try." Miller agreed.
"Alright." Flaherty conceded. "You two go have a word with Joey, and I'll stay here and keep a line out. Let me know if he tells ya anything."
H
5
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Danny walked through the hospital halls for the second time that day as he made his way toward the secure ward. After pausing to ask a nurse for a room number, he entered Joey Manzetti's room. He smirked when he saw how awful the kid looked. It was obvious that he was in withdrawal form whatever drug had been coursing through his system yesterday. Making sure to keep his voice extra loud, Danny began.
"Joey, Joey, Joey." Manzetti winced.
"Hey, ya mind keepin' it down?" he grouched. Danny continued as if he hadn't heard him.
"Kid, you are in a lot of trouble. Right now, I'm here to ask you few questions and I would suggest you answer them. This time, daddy's not here. There's no more money and no more lawyers to get you out of this." Joey said nothing, just continued to glare petulantly up at Danny. "So here's the deal. You and I both know that you and your family have been responsible for taking out your competition and getting them arrested. If you were to go to prison here, you would be dead inside a month. I can prevent all that, but you gotta work with me."
"Whattya want?" Joey asked impatiently.
"Your father escaped from jail. I wanna know where he would go." Joey snorted derisively.
"You're wastin' your time. I dunno where he is and I certainly ain't gonna tell you!" Shrugging, Danny turned to walk out.
"Fine. Enjoy prison while it lasts." He had almost reached the door when Joey's slightly panicked voice called out.
"Wait." Danny paused. "What's it worth if I help you?"
"Depends on how cooperative you are."
"I can tell you places he'd go, give you names of people he'd hook up with. What does that get me?"
"Well it's not a 'get out of jail free' card. However, you help us out on this, and I get you placed in a prison in the Midwest somewhere under a new name." Silence fell as Joey considered his options. Finally, he came to a decision.
"If ya get me a piece of paper, I can write down the addresses of all the places he'd hideout at. I can give you names, too." Danny nodded and Miller handed Joey his notepad and pen.
Half an hour later, Danny was leaving the hospital with a whole page of leads and a slightly more positive outlook. Danny took a seat on one of the benches outside and pulled out his phone to call Steve. After a few rings, he heard his partner's voice come on the line.
"McGarrett."
"Hey, babe. How's it goin'?"
"Danny, man, you gotta get me outta here! His wife, Theodora, keeps trying to feed me! I can't eat another bite of lasagna or I will literally explode." Danny laughed.
"It's called caring, Steven. She cares. Let her feed you, let her pamper you. It's good. You need that."
"Traitor." Steve muttered, but his tone was lighthearted. "How's things on your end?"
"Good, actually. Joey just gave me a list of his father's hideouts and associates."
"What'd you have to do to get that outta him?"
"Not much, surprisingly. I told him he'd get killed if he went to prison here and I could get him transferred somewhere else. Kid caved right away."
"Nice." Suddenly, Flaherty's car pulled up to the curb.
"Danny, one of my sources just came through. I got a location on Manzetti! Get in."
"Steve, I gotta go. Flaherty says he's found Manzetti. I'll call you as soon as I know something."
"Kay, be careful man." Danny hung up and slid into the passenger seat. They drove for about ten minutes, before pulling up to a unkempt courtyard behind a rundown apartment complex.
"He's here?" Danny asked, getting out.
"Yeah, this is the place." Cautiously, they made their way into the courtyard. A few steps into the fenced area, Danny heard the tell-tale click of a pistol behind him.
"I'm sorry, Danny. I really am." Flaherty said softly from behind.
"For what?" Danny asked, even though he already knew."
"For this." A deep voice boomed form the shadows. A moment later, Joe Manzetti stepped into the light.
Hope you liked it! I personally don't think this story is as good as some of my others, but oh well. Sorry for any typos, but I just remembered that I have to go to a fundraiser tonight and I have no time to proofread!