A/N: Thank you to everyone for making this such a popular story. You don't know how much it means to me and how much I'm loving all your wonderful reviews! You've been so kind and I'm so glad that you get what I'm trying to portray in this story! You guys are awesome and I adore you all for it!
That being said, hope you are looking for a little hurt Steve and Danny, cause you're going to get it in this chapter. Followed by the comfort that we always want to see and an awesome partners moment, if i do say so myself. I'm very proud of this chapter!
So, enjoy, drop me a review is you can, and I'll catch you when I get home from my trip! Shopping here i come!
As always, I own nothing!
p.s if you haven't seen DDK's tweet of Lieutenant Chin Ho Kelly, you need to look for that picture! As much as it breaks my heart, I still think it super hot!
Chapter 10: Fire at Ten Paces
Danny and Steve rode up to the crime scene just in time to see the body of the young woman hoisted into a black body bag and then placed onto the back of an ATV for transport. Max remained with the body the whole time, shouting orders to get it, and him, out of the jungle as quickly as possible. Steve and Danny shared an amused glance as the ATV sped by them, Max clinging on for dear life, and then silence fell again.
"He just doesn't like the jungle," Danny stated as Steve laughed.
Charlie, who was still photographing the scene, looked up in time to see Danny and Steve arrive on horse back and their amusement at the coroner's distress. She scene that played out before him looked like something out of a movie, as Steve and Danny rode up, slowly, and surveyed what was happened around them.
"I'll probably get in trouble for this," He said to Kono as he pointed his camera in their direction and snapped the shot, "but I just think that is too perfect to pass up."
"Looking good boss man," Kono called from down below, "you almost look like you know what you're doing."
"You're gonna be sore tomorrow," Chin laughed as Steve shot Kono a disapproving glance.
"Stop taking pictures!" Danny hissed at Charlie as he heard the camera snap and caught only the faint glimpse of the muted flash.
"But you two look so epic!" Charlie stated, "This shot should be on the HPD website, we'd gain so much street cred!"
"Oh, alright then, when you put it that way, but you had better get Target's good side," Danny joked.
"What can you tell us Chin?" Steve asked with a smile as he leaned on the saddle horn and looked down into his elder's eyes.
"The boundaries of this investigation have branched out again. HPD has started down the trails," Chin explained as Danny stopped and dismounted.
"We have to head back soon. We have some interrogations to deal with and I have Grace tonight," Danny explained, "but I'm pretty sure you're going to find a lot as HPD head down those trails." He added.
"The scene's in good hands here," Charlie said and smiled, "we'll keep working; you get back to the city. You and your horse have done enough for one day."
"Thanks Charlie," Danny smiled and petted the side of Target's head. "Can you handle one last run," he asked looking into the black eyes of the great beast before him.
Target shook out his main, hissed at Danny, but turned his head back down the river bank.
"I think it's hilarious that you can communicate with him," Steve laughed as he dismounted Loa.
"You need to learn how to listen and they will talk to you," Danny stated and looked into Loa's eyes. "She's tired." He added and petted the tip of her nose.
"I'll take some of the weight off her and she'll be fine," Chin stated and started to pull off some of the equipment that he had brought.
"Let me help," Kono said as she reached out.
"Nah, you head back Kono, and find out whatever you can on our victim. She has a family out there somewhere," Chin stated.
"Sounds good," Kono smiled as Danny mounted Target once more and she looked up at him with questions in her eyes.
"Yes," Danny laughed reading the question on her face as he reached down and she hoisted her up behind him. She wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and waited for him to take off once again.
"Take care of my horse," Chin stated as Steve sighed and went to hand the reins back to him. "I'm going to hang back with HPD and check out some of these trails." He added and handed his hat to Steve as well, "you'll need that in the setting sun."
"He won't wear it," Danny laughed.
"Yes I will," Steve stated, slammed the hat onto his head and mounted Loa once again.
"Now that's a sight to be seen," Charlie laughed as he nudged his partner.
"I don't think HPD has ever looked that good before," the little red headed woman laughed and winked at Charlie. "They are Hawaiian Heroes after all," she smiled, "you had better capture that shot."
"I'm on it Ruby," Charlie laughed as the four Five-Os stood together and prepared to head out.
5-0
Denis sat alone in an interrogation room. Danny and Steve had turned the suspects over to HPD and they had been brought back to Honolulu Police Department, processed and after that point, Denis had not seen Billy or Samuel, but he had been placed in this tiny dark room to sit and wait. And wait he did.
Danny and Steve had arrived back at the Palace in the Camaro about and hour and a half after they'd left the ranch. Kono was given the Silverado to take her back into the city, as she was hanging back to make sure Gloria would be alright, and then she would make her way in as well.
Danny had changed out of his riding clothes and looked his usual self as they arrived back at the Palace, but Steve on the other hand was not ready to relinquish Chin's cowboy hat. He wore it proudly as they walked through the Palace, a grin ever present on his face.
"So what's the plan cowboy?" Danny asked, his tie back around his neck, as they walked into their office.
"Interrogation," Steve smiled and marched off to his office space.
"And I'm back to being left in the dark," Danny sighed, walked off to his office, retrieved his tablet just as Steve came out of his office with a small wooden box in his hands, and the partners met once more right beside the Smart table. "So who's first?" Danny asked eyeing the box with suspicion.
"Denis," Steve smiled.
"You gonna fill me in on the plan of attack?" Danny asked.
"My suspect, my party," Steve smiled mischievously and walked back out of the Five-O office.
5-0
Denis jumped as Steve and Danny walked into the interrogation room, flooding it momentarily with light. He'd been waiting so long that he had been dozing and the sudden opening of the door caught him by surprise.
"Sleep well?" Steve asked as he placed a chair in front of Denis.
"I wasn't sleeping," Denis answered.
"You're going to tell us everything you know, aren't you Denis?" Steve asked.
"I already told you I would," Denis retorted.
"Who are these men?" Danny asked as he turned his tablet to Denis.
"Samuel Hires and Robert 'Billy' Matthews." Denis stated.
"How many more people work on this secret farm out in the jungle?" Danny asked.
"There are about twenty of us that work the fields and prep the product." Denis explained.
Steve and Danny exchanged looks of concern.
"There aren't usually more than four or five out there on a shift at a time," Denis said seeing the concern in the faces of the officers.
"And where is Loei?" Steve asked.
"He has a lair," Denis stated.
"A lair?" Danny asked, "You mean like Batman?"
"He's kinda like Batman." Denis admitted. "There is a cave out in the national forest. Loei lives there."
"How close is it to the ranch," Steve asked.
"The ranch that you are investigating is only one of four," Denis explained, "at the four corners where all of the farms meet you'll find the compound that Loei has developed."
"How many girls are there?" Danny asked.
"Lots," Denis admitted, "Loei keeps them close to him."
"And how many are dead?" Steve asked.
"Lots," Denis admitted, "those forests are littered with graves. When the girls are not useful to Loei…" Denis shrugged his shouldered but did not continue talking.
Fury flashed in Danny's eyes.
"Denis, I'm going to ask you one last question and you'd better answer honestly or you're pau!" Steve said from his seat right in front of his suspects face.
Denis nodded.
"Have you killed anyone for Loei?" Danny asked for Steve.
"No!" Denis gasped.
"Are you sure?" Steve asked pulling his gun from its place at his hip and aiming it square between Denis' eyes.
"I swear. Loei does all the killing, he likes the power." Denis stated in a panic. "He flaunts it to keep us all in check."
"Why did Samuel and Billy go back for the body?" Danny asked as Steve lowered his weapon.
"They are seconds to Loei. They do all his dirty work." Denis explained as he sighed a sigh of relief as the weapon was removed from his face. "Loei just kills and gives orders. Sam, Billy and Edwin do all the rest."
"Why were your prints found on the well, if you aren't ranking in Loei's crew?" Danny asked suspiciously.
"Because I'm educated, I'm originally a conservation officer, with back ground in water resource management." Denis explained.
"Sounds like a good job, why'd you throw all that away?" Danny asked.
"I was stupid," Denis admitted bowing his head, "I thought I could control myself, but the drugs, my demons, took over and everything fell apart." He sighed.
"When was the last time you took a hit?" Danny asked.
"Been off the ice since I was arrested; now all I do is the occasional marijuana." Denis confessed.
"Denis, you've been very helpful," Danny said as Steve called the guard into the interrogation room. "We'll do what we can to help you, but you'll have to stick around for the time being. I'll get you back to your Auntie, but please promise you'll clean up your act."
"I promise," Denis sighed and relaxed. "Thank you Detective."
5-0
"You believe him?" Steve asked as he leaned against the wall outside the interrogation room, his head down and the wide rim of Chin's hat shadowing his face, as Danny came out of the room behind Denis and the armed HPD guard.
"I do, Butch," Danny laughed, half heartedly, "can you ditch the hat and be serious for a few minutes? It's a little ridiculous in this setting." He added.
"It's for effect," Steve winked and headed down the hall.
"Where are you going?" Danny asked, "We still have two more suspects to interrogate and I have to pick up Gracie in a little over an hour."
"Yeah, I know," Steve stated, "I have them being held down at the gun range."
"In the basement?" Danny asked and hurried after Steve. "Why?" he asked as he caught up.
"You'll see," Steve smiled and petted the wooden box he carried under his arm.
"Steve why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?" Danny hissed but followed the overly dramatic McGarrett.
5-0
Danny and Steve walked into the bright shooting range to find their two suspects tied together, back to back, very old western style, and guarded by two officers armed with shot guns.
"Thanks for the help gentlemen," Steve stated, tipped his hat at the officers and watched them leave. "Did ya like that Danny? I took that right out of the Daniel Williams book of Cowboy etiquette." Steve smiled.
"I'm flattered," Danny said and rolled his eyes.
"It's about time," The one called Samuel stated as they were left alone with the detectives.
"You should shut your mouth," Danny stated and leaned into Sam, "last time I saw you, you had a look in your eyes that screamed; 'please don't kill me'. You're not that tough, boy, so watch your tongue."
"I didn't recognize you," Samuel gasped as he saw the flash of rage in Danny's eyes.
"Get to know this face," Danny hissed, "it's probably the last you'll ever see."
"You're fuckin insane," Sam cried. "Who hogties a man?"
"Its standard procedure," Steve stated before Danny could answer the question. "Weren't you aware of what Five-Os were capable of? We have full immunity; we can do anything we see fit." Steve explained.
"I was not aware of anything like that," Samuel stated.
"Oh, well, where have you been living; in a cave?" Steve asked and saw the flash of knowledge in Samuel's eyes. "Hit a nerve with that one Danno," Steve laughed and looked to Danny.
"Sammy, don't say anything else," Billy stated not being able to see Steve, Danny or Samuel.
"You weren't so tough when you were staring down the barrel of a cowboy's shot gun," Danny stated as he walked around to face Billy, all the while watching Steve's every move.
"What are you going to do with us?" Sam asked.
Steve smiled down at the frightened young man, "we just want to talk," he said and opened the wooden box to reveal a pair of old silver revolvers.
"Wow, those are way too old to be yours." Danny stated at the sight of the guns.
"They belonged to my great grandfather on my mother's side." Steve explained. "He was originally from California, gold rush; yes I am aware they are silver. Rumor has it, he traded for them. They've been passed down for generations to the oldest child in his family; so from my grandfather, to my mother and then to me."
"I've seen that box before, in your office, but never knew what was in it," Danny smiled as Steve handed one of the revolvers over to his partner.
"Do they work?" Sam asked nervously.
A grin spread across Steve's face.
"Yes they do," Danny answered and moved away to one of the range bays.
Steve followed Danny, leaving the two men tied up, half way down the room.
At one end the men could see Steve and Danny loading the revolvers and placing the protective gear over their ears and eyes. At the other end of the room the lights flicked on and a row of paper targets were lit up.
"What are you two doing?" Sam yelled as a pair of targets zipped into range of the shooters.
"Whoa, guys, seriously sitting right here!" Billy stated as panic took over.
"Yeah, we know," Steve said, raised the weapon and aimed, "Ready Danny?" he asked.
"Ready," Danny answered.
Sixteen shots rang out in quickly succession as Samuel and Billy panicked and tipped themselves over. They crashed down hard on the cement floor, still tied to one another and the chairs that held them in place.
"That is a nice gun," Danny stated as the smoke cleared.
"I know," Steve smiled, "its one of my favorite things to do." He added as the two targets came back across the room at them, "nice shooting partner," Steve stated eyeing the cluster of holes on Danny's target.
"Same to you," Danny smiled noticing that both he and Steve were very evenly matched in shooting ability.
"Um, we're still here," Billy yelled as he coughed on the blood that was filling his mouth.
"A little help, please," Sam yelled from his place with his cheek against the cold cement floor.
"We weren't going to shoot you," Danny stated rolling his eyes as he and Steve placed the two suspects back upright.
"But we might," Steve smiled as he loaded one bullet into the rotating chamber and spun it into motion, "you gonna answer our questions?"
"Who the hell are you people?" Sam cried in fear.
"We're the law, and justice will be served." Danny hissed.
"Why was Molly Paglia shot in the head," Steve asked.
"She wasn't useful anymore!" Sam yelled.
"So you shot her!" Danny yelled right back into Sam's face.
"By your reasoning, I should just shoot you," Steve stated and aimed the revolved between Sam's eyes, "you willing to gamble with your life?" he asked, his voice hushed and angry.
"No!" Sam cried, tears rolling down his face.
"Then why will you take another life?" Steve yelled and pulled the trigger of the revolver.
Silence fell when the revolver clicked but nothing happened.
"Sammy you ok?" Billy asked after a long and fear filled silence.
"Yeah," Sam said shaking from head to toe.
"Sammy didn't shoot Molly," Billy said softly.
"Did you?" Danny asked the second revolver still in his hand.
"No, our boss did. We were just going back to burry the body." Billy answered.
"Did you watch Loei shoot her?" Steve asked.
Sam's eyes grew wide as the gun was raised again.
"Yes, I know who your boss is." Steve stated aiming the gun again right between Sam's eyes.
"We watched, yes," Sam gasped.
The weapon was lowered.
"Did you try to stop him?" Danny asked.
"No," Billy said lowering his eyes.
"How many women have you watched be slaughtered because you are too much of a coward to stand up for justice and what is right?" Danny hissed rage in his eyes now.
"A lot," Billy answered.
"Explain to me how you can live with yourself." Danny growled.
"I know that when I'm not useful, Loei will kill me too," Billy stated.
"So why are you afraid if I hold a gun to your face?" Steve asked with just as much anger and vehement hatred coursing through him as it was Danny.
"Because I never planned to become useless," Sam cried.
"Never, ever, have I through a person was more useless then I do as I look at you," Danny spat in Samuel's face. "You don't deserve to live. Kaulike will be served against you. You're going down charged with accessory to murder. I will not rest until I see you in Halawa with the rest of the scum that have polluted my State!" Danny yelled, his hands shaking as he held onto the revolver, and then he walked out of the shooting range.
"Murder one, if I can help it," Steve growled and followed Danny out.
5-0
"We still don't know where to find Edwin," Steve said as he walked out into the hall and found Danny sitting on the floor, his back against the wall and his knees pulled up to his chin.
"He'll be with Loei," Danny sighed and handed the revolver back to Steve as he joined him on the floor, "you weren't going to shoot him, were you?" Danny asked after a moments silence passed between them, "not that I would have protested at this point." He added with a sigh and rested his chin on his knees.
"The bullet was never in the chamber," Steve half smiled, "I have an aptitude for a little slight of hand," he added and dropped the bullet into Danny's hand.
"You like magic?" Danny asked a hint of amusement on his face.
"Not magic, that's not real," Steve correct, "but slight of hand and illusions, yes, since I was young."
Danny laughed a genuine good humored laugh, "good secret partner," he smiled when his laughed had died away.
"Are you ok, Danny?" Steve asked, "You had a look I don't think I've ever seen before, and I'm just asking, because you have to go and get Grace in a few minutes. You're not yourself."
"Neither are you," Danny said and looked right into Steve's eyes.
"I've never wanted to just torture a person as much as I did just now," Steve admitted.
"Me either, I wanted you to just go nuts and massacre those two. I was ready to help, but we'll be more effective on this side of the law." Danny sighed, "we have to save those women and stop Loei," he added passionately, "if it's the last thing we do."
"I know," Steve admitted, "and we will."
"What do you know about Kaulike? What did Gloria tell you?" Danny asked after another silence.
"I know what you did and I know why you did it," Steve stated.
"This feels just like that," Danny sighed.
"Yes, I can imagine that it does, and we're going to stop the killing once and for all," Steve said.
"Thanks Steve," Danny sighed and rubbed his eyes, "I'm taking Grace and Kono riding tomorrow just on the ranch for safety sake, but you're welcome to come along if you want to learn to ride."
"I'd like that," Steve smiled and tipped his hat in a gesture of thanks.
"You know Chin's gonna want his hat back, right cowboy," Danny laughed.
"I know," Steve sighed, "but I really like it. I think it suits me."
"Oh, you do, do you?" Danny laughed again, "What happened to 'Danny, if I see you in full cowboy gear I'll have to ridicule you'?"
"When I saw you, for the first time, I was like, 'dude that guy is so epic,' and then when I realized it was you I couldn't help but be so proud of my partner." Steve smiled.
"Yeah, I guess I am pretty awesome sometimes," Danny laughed.
"I wanna be more like you Danno, on the job and off," Steve joked.
"We're working on it, Steven, you'll get there with a little patience and once you learn to listen to me." Danny stated with a retort full of sarcasm.
"I listen, I just don't like what I hear sometimes," Steve laughed and took the hat off, "I guess I should get this back to Chin." He sighed sadly.
"We'll buy you your own tomorrow before we head out to the ranch." Danny laughed and walked away.
Steve smiled to himself before he walked in the other direction to get the guards to take the two fugitives away.