The storm was definitely on its way back

From the western Pacific, banks of darkened clouds had appeared on the horizon, beginning a steady advance toward the island, ready to join the ones already there, the final remnants of the mid-sized storm that had already dropped several inches of rain.

This was the Pacific, though, and of all Earth's oceans, none were hit by unpleasant ( or pleasant, depending on whether- pun sincere- you preferred rain or shine ) weather, than the Pacific. Along with its status as the world's deepest ocean, it also had the distinction of the stormiest as well.

Now that was manifesting itself. Oahu had already been lashed by a storm the previous night, but now it was about to get a second round, as that bank of storm clouds, a wall of obsidian hanging in the sky, crept closer and closer to the coast. From its mass, lightning flickered and flashed, as it advertising its strength, and its imminent landfall, to everyone watching it.

At last, it was getting close. A strong ocean breeze was airbrushing its way in, causing the Palm trees to bend and flex , kicking up clouds of sand, and scattering fallen leaves.

Only the first hints of of what was on its way, but it was enough.

Along Oahu's western beaches, the usually large and teeming crowds began to thin, as beachgoers decided to withdraw to somewhere they'd stay dry, rather than wait till the last second, and get caught under yet more rain. And, it seemed this new squall would be worst than the last; the NSW was already issuing warning to the general populace that the weather front approaching them was already considered to be a tropical storm, and advising them to stay inland for the next few hours.

That didn't stop at least some of them from making a quick stop at what was arguably the most popular coastal eatery on Waikiki, just long enough to get something for the road:

" Cap'n Grover ", boomed the laid back, gregarious tone of Kamekona Tupuola. " You're a brave man, sticking around so close to the water, considerin' there's a royal class storm comin' in ".

The big boned, notoriously friendly food truck owner was in his typical mood: cheerful, unhurried, and seemingly unfazed by how close said ' royal storm ' currently was. Granted, he did have a food truck, which would let him relocate his business easily and get away from the squall as well, but Grover still got the impression that Kamekona would stay put right here if a tsunami was on its way, right till the last possible moment to escape.

Dedication was a strange thing. Or, that's what it seemed to be.

" Well, what can I say ? ", Grover shrugged, glancing at the posted menu, even though he knew what he wanted already. It was a basic behavior to always study the menu board of a place that had one, even if you were sure you knew what you wanted. " I like excellent food. "

"Ehh, now. Flattery won't be enough to get you a discount, I must warn you. "

Good ol' Kamekona wit, always got Grover to chuckle, and it did now. After all, Tani was still alive, and still fighting to stay that way, defying the Yakuza's blatant attempt to take her out. She wasn't out of the red zone, not yet, but there was still cause to be optimistic. She was getting there.

Besides, Grover did need to eat.

" 6 piece shrimp box ", he told Kamekona. " And add a Cesar salad. Hold the dressing "

" Nice and generous, Captain ! What's got you in such a charitable mood ? "

Oh, that's right. He didn't know. It was the usual easygoing banter he had to offer, but but Grover had not told Kamekona that one of the Task Force's own was in grave danger.

Visiting hours at ended at her hospital for the day, so Grover had decided to finally take care of his lingering hunger by paying a visit to the well known mobile restaurant. Which, to be honest, had become a sort of beacon for the team; they could eat there, chat about things that weren't work related, and just basically relax.

Wasn't the same without all of them there, but at least Grover could get food he liked. Because, good food was always what you wanted and needed when something was weighing on you.

Grover didn't want to just shift that onto someone else, but Kamekona was part of their ohana, after all. They may not keep him looped into their cases, but then again:

This wasn't a case like that.

" You may have heard, that there was an open gunfight in town recently ? "

" Hm ? Oh, ohhh, yeah. Yeah, I heard about. Whole lotta chaos, man. Someone shot that place up pretty bad. "

That's an understatement. Still, you're right.

" That they did. "

" Man, these gangs are gettin' out of hand. You and your posse, you'd better stay on your toes, before they come after you ".

For not having been informed of all the details, Kamekona had his rather close to home.

Agh, he has no idea how close

The unintended pause from Grover, as the irony of what Kamekona said, proved to be telling enough.

" Ohh, no. " Kamekona's jovial expression was now replaced by one of contriteness.

" One of the team got hit ? Who was it ? "

Grover inhaled slightly.

" Tani. Can't go into details, you know, but what matters is, she got caught in the fire. Its bad, Kamekona. Real bad. Docs did manage to keep her living, but not by was touch and go for a while, and I got to say, man, I was scared. "

" She's lying in the ICU, as we speak. Hospital kicked out all visitors for today, so, here I am."

The short, melancholy tale was at its end. Grover didn't like to disrupt Kamekona's usually upbeat attitude, but, there it was. And, frankly, it was't something he didn't need to know.

With a slow exhale of solemness, Kamekona shook his head. " Grover, you should know: You and your team get hungry while you're working to hunt those who did this to her, and while you still waiting for her to get out of there, you can always come here. I want to help, you know ? "

" Man, that's just absolutely nightmarish, what's happened to her. "

The sincerity in his voice was all too real, and Grover could tell he was worried as they all were about her

Well, not as much as Junior, though. But, that was really between him and Tani. It was between them.

Still.

" Well, I am sure she would thank you in person, if she could. But, as she can't, I will do it for her: Thanks, Kamekona ", Grover told him.

" You're welcome, man, and so is she, and your team: To 50 percent off. Till she wakes, of course. "

Now that did bring a a real smile to Grover, which escalated to a full on chuckle. True, Kamekona was actually, truly concerned for Tani's well being, that much was clear, generous discount or not. But, it was still a piece of the other side of Kamekona , the one that was a business owner, who always thought about his daily numbers.

Well, better he charge less than charge more.

" I think there's a good chance Steve will take you up on that, considering he doesn't cook much for himself, aside from BBQing, "

" Man of my word, I am. Count on it. Now then, though, still want that order you placed ? Better hurry; that storm just about on us, by the way. "

He was quite right. The cloud bank was now about a mile off the beach, stretching for miles and miles either way. A dark translucent curtain- the cascade of falling rain -hung beneath it, reaching from the clouds underside to the surface of the sea.

It would be on them soon.

" Oh ! Right, right "

Grover quickly turned his attention to the posted menu board. He actually already knew what he wanted- he'd been here often enough-, but it was just a basic behavior, that you always checked the menu board of anywhere you went that had one, even if you already knew exactly what you wanted.

Basic human instincts and all that.

" Hmm, ok. I'll take a 6 piece shrimp box. With a salad, but hold the dressing. "

" Takin advantage of the deal already, eh ? Ah well, my fault for offering it. Wait right there; it won't be long "

" Oh, and by way, Grover ? "

" Hm ? "

" When you visit her again, let me know. I'll be there as well, ok ? "

" You can count on that, Kamekona "

With an affirmative nod, Kamekona turned back into the confines of the truck to prepare the order. Grover let his thumbs hook into his pockets, idly turning to watch as the last few remnants of the beach crowds retreat inland, by foot, or by what wheels they'd gotten there in on, all to get clear of the impending squall.

Grover knew he'd be among them, soon as he got that shrimp.

Before too long, said squall would be falling on them. Oahu was in for a serious drenching, even more so than the last and recent one.

And here I am without my umbrella. Sure, it'll be great for the grass, but not for me.

That was fine, though. Some soaking by rain was alright, as long as it wasn't freezing, and you got to cover quickly. Otherwise, it just soaked into your clothes, all the way through, and that was just unwanted-

Complain, complain, Grover.

Ah, well. I've earned just a tad of grumbling, I think, over these years.

Just a tad

There were days Danno did not envy Steve's position as the boss of the Task Force.

Which was saying something, because more than a few times a day, beginning from the first day they'd begun working together, Danno had found himself mentally noting how much more sensibly the Task Force would be run, if he were charge. With a rationally headed detective at the helm, rather than a gung-ho, reckless cowboy who's reserves of common sense were frequently exhausted.

He'll get one or both of us killed before the decade is out

But on the other hand ( and Danno could, of course, not EVER admit this to him out loud ), Steve had his uses. Sometimes, you had to fight fire with fire. In these last few years, that had happened so often, it was now the norm. Maybe, leaders like him were the ones everyone needed after all.

Ultimately, though, none of that was the question right now.

"- I know. Yes, its circumstantial at best, but we'll keep investigating on our end. You'll keep him under watch ? Understood, Sheriff. Thank you. Commander McGarrett, out. "

bp

The call ended, Steve placed his phone down, and braced both hands on the edge of his office desk, leaning onto it. Off to the right, braced against one of the walls, Danno stood with arms crossed. Outside, another round of rain had begun to beat the glass, as the squall made its grand entrance onto the island.

It lasted a few moments, then-

" Well, like you said, there's no solid proof. Yet. "

Steve didn't reply for another several seconds.

" I also said we'd keep working this case from where we are, and that's what we'll do. Maybe it'll prove he's innocent; that could very well happen. "

" Or maybe it won't "

Steve let go of the desk, rubbed his stubble with one hand for a bit, lower lip bitten.

" Danno, he's been in jail before. "

" I know "

" For taking out other Yakuza ".

" And that came withing an inch of getting him killed, when they pulled off that prison van escape during his first stint, when he got hauled through the jungle chained to a bunch of other convicts ! Remember that ? "

Right. That prison van escape. Points for ingenuity, if nothing else.

" Yeah, I remember that. " Danno affirmed. " And I know where you're headed with this: Steve: If his first Yakuza-induced brush with prison was like that, then how will they take it when he lands back in, for taking out one of their most prominent bosses . "

A gale has risen now, and its howl echoed, whipping around the palace walls, rattling the office windows in their panes.

" That's about it. Its just a a gun and gloves. Its what he used to take Noriko out. Or, its not. There's a lot riding on which it is, Danno. "

" Well, I think we can agree, that's not all that's on an edge, you know. I don't want to make it seem like a " Choose one or the other ", because it absolute isn't, but now, we have Tani's life, AND potentially Adam's, in pretty big and real danger. Or at least, her life and his freedom. "

Steve sighed.

" Wish you were wrong more often, Danno. Don't take that the wrong way. "

" Throw me off the Team whenever you want, I'll just run the restaurant myself. Take all the profit too. "

Steve shook his head, but huffed with just a hint of bemusement.

" Ever the jerk, Danno. Ever the jerk. "

Bmm. Bmm.

Bmm-

" Yes ? "

" We found her ! I would not contact you if I was not utterly certain. "

" Hmm. So, you're finally showing a hint that you might prove your worth, it seems. Where is she ?

" Straub Medical Center. They have her in the ICU'S recovery wing, linked to support equipment. "

" Ah. Nearly taken from this world already. But, not quite, and that is where you and your men come in "

" With a plan, now. This storm is fortuitous; power outages are not uncommon, as is common knowledge. When they do happen, chaos follows. Opportunities, open. "

( silence for a few seconds )

" I suspect I know what your plan entails. Do you have your assigned operatives in position ? "

" Outside the hospital as we speak; they can slip into nearly anywhere, and a hospital is one of them. They need only the cover of a total power failure, including the backups, and the resulting overload, to successfully enter, and accomplish their mission "

" Aside from the obvious punishment awaiting you and them if they fail, and not from the police, is this operation ready to proceed at a moment's notice ? "

" Yes. "

" Do they have an exit strategy ? "

" Yes. "

" All tools and assets they know they require ? "

" Yes. "

" I will be informed of any mishaps. If you do not want them and yourself to die, by the law's hand, or mine, you will escape undetected."

" As you command. "

" Very well, then. Commence the operation at once. ".

" Yes, sir. "