Thought I'd better get something posted - Delays are inevitable at the end of the school year...
Chapter 11: Don't Trust Those Umbrella Drinks!
The night and day that followed William's setback went smoothly. More swimming, more strategy meetings, more milk and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Followed by more swimming to burn off the calories of the chocolate chip cookies. Danny had stayed awake and even managed to cool off in the water floating lazily as the competitive duo raced between the buoys.
The three healthy members of the team made sure Danny had no upsets during the day. Dr. Lewis had stopped by and was pleased with both readings and verbal reports. He didn't shoot Williams up with morphine so it was a win-win all around.
After feeding their Haole dinner, Kono explored the combination of fruit juices and rum. The three men returned to the large dining table where the files were spread out.
They ascertained that all the Amerisource reps had their own accounts and their rep numbers appeared on their billings. So Brian Jones moved up on the "I'm interested in you" list.
Williams was now looking over reports of people who'd been drugged and robbed while Chin was busy creating a map and timeline of the places the assaults took place. Initially there didn't seem to be a pattern, but there were several favored places that came up time and again.
"There's kind of a pattern," Chin said as he looked at the pins. "If you squint."
"Yeah, these three bars, all in hotels, are hit most often," Steve said.
"Maybe they book a room, take their victim upstairs and do whatever they're gonna do," Danny added.
"So we can look at registers, look for any reoccurring names in those places," Chin decided. More notations on the electronic pad.
"Tomorrow we start looking at those records," McGarrett decided. "We can't go anywhere, but we can certainly pull up information from the sources. Time to relax." He switched off his pad and set it down on the table.
"Hey, rookie, get those fru-fru drinks ready?" Williams leaned back and grinned watching Kono slip through the doorway.
"Believe it, bro!" she smirked. "Follow me!" The three men shoved chairs in and followed her out onto the deck, chairs set in a semi-circle with a tall pitcher set on it. Four glasses appropriately adorned with fresh fruit spears and umbrellas were filled with an appetizing liquid awaited them.
"Wait for the float!" Kono admonished as she pulled out a bottle of dark rum. A generous amount topped each glass and were scooped up. They settled down and sipped away.
"Good grief!" Chin sputtered as he sipped. "Is there any juice in this at all?" Steve grimaced.
"Uh, just the pineapple spear?" he hesitated. Danny stirred his glass with the straw before he sipped.
"Yeah, there's juice," he smacked his lips appreciatively. "But it's about 50/50." The others followed his example then retried the refreshment.
"I think someone else should make the next pitcher," Steve blinked.
"There's rum left for a 'next pitcher'?" Chin asked in disbelief. His cousin slapped his arm.
"Jerk!" she sputtered with laughter. They settled down for a few minutes and watched the stars appearing in the sky.
It would have been idyllic, but too much rum and a dark movie including plenty of pyrotechnics and violence provided the basis for tremendous nightmares. Plural. Starting with Steve who burst upright out of sleep calling for a long-forgotten comrade.
Danny stumbled over to him first, wisely talking to him in soft tones without actually making contact. Chin and Kono, however, entered the room with a bang, bursting through the door and startling McGarrett.
Who leapt off the bed and knocked his room mate over.
"STEVE!" Chin barked out stopping the Seal from further action. He froze, staring at the older detective.
"It's ok, Steve, just a bad dream," Danny called up from the floor. McGarrett looked down at his partner under his feet. It took several long moments for the frightened man to control his breathing.
"Man, cuz, what'd you put in that last one?" Chin asked.
"Same as the first pitcher," she said. "I finished off the bottles."
"Well, let's try to remember that Navy Seals and fru-fru drinks DO NOT mix," Danny muttered. The Haole was rubbing a sore stomach where he'd been shoved. Steve reached down and pulled his partner to his feet, making sure he hadn't caused any damage.
"I'll put it on the procedures list," Kono promised.
"Procedures list?" McGarrett asked suspiciously. The cousins smiled identical sweet smiles.
"Just a little list to help us keep things straight," Chin said angelically.
"Does Danny have one of these 'procedures lists'?" Steve continued. Like deer caught in the headlight the duo turned to the Haole.
"Uh, yeah," Kono said. McGarrett and Williams stared at them for a moment, then at one another before the haole shrugged.
"Ok, then, that's fair," Danny determined. "We're both kind of high maintenance."
"Speak for yourself," Steve huffed, "I'm easy to get alone with." Three sets of eyes swiveled in his direction. Three sets of eyes rolled with varying degrees of incredulity.
"I'm going back to bed," Danny shook himself and climbed back under the light covers. "I'll leave you to sort yourselves out." He a waved his hand dismissively and curled down. The others followed suit and soon quiet descended.
For a time...
When Williams came to he was sitting waist deep in the water, moon light dancing brightly on the gentle waves. He hardly had time to try to figure out where he was when several bodies splashed into the water behind him.
Steve carefully knelt down, a comforting hand on a shaking shoulder. Chin and Kono were next, buffering so that the shivering man was surrounded.
"Hey, Danno," soft voices. No answer. Just increased trembling.
"He looks a little shocky," Chin murmured as he pulled his Haole closer to him. Williams went willingly allowing the comfort.
"Better see about getting him inside and into dry clothes," Kono suggested. "Hey, bro, you want to go in with us?" Still no discernible answer. Steve tried next.
"Come on, Danny, let's go find something warm to drink," he ran a hand over shoulders and down the back. Finally the shocky man looked up.
"I'm wet," he said.
"Yeah, sitting in the ocean does that," McGarrett replied softly. They expected another comment but none were forthcoming; Williams simply pressed closer to Kelly and the shaking increased.
"Come on, Danny," Chin looked over at his team and they carefully stood up pulling the Haole with them.
"I hate that dream," he said as he attempted to walk inside leaning heavily on Steve's and Chin's shoulders.
"We hate it too," Kono agreed. "Scares us." She moved ahead to gather dry clothes.
Soon, dried, in clean clothes and a light blanket wrapped around him, Danny sipped at warmed broth. His hands were still shaking, body shivering, so Steve held the mug as he drank. Chin took over when he entered the kitchen so the Seal could change into dry clothes.
"I can't believe it's only 3," Kono groaned.
"I could certainly do with a couple more hours sleep," Steve said. Danny did not look too happy about that. But Chin set the mug down and stood up, offering the Haole a hand. Not saying a word the man was led into the bedroom and encouraged to lay down. Chin covered him with a sheet then lie down beside him stealing a pillow.
Turning onto his side Williams curled up nearly touching the older detective. Another pillow landed behind him and another body snugged in onto the bed. Lights were turned out.
"Night, Danny!" Kono called softly from the other bed.
"Night Kono," he sighed knowing they would not leave him alone.
"First one that even thinks about 'good night moon' has to make the coffee," Steve huffed. Snickering rose up for a few moments. Then silence and the evening out of breathing as tired people fell asleep.
Day three started late. Danny started to stretch indulgently but was hampered by two rather large bookends. With a sigh he wiggled up and out of the sheets and managed to climb over Chin.
*When you guys sleep you really sleep,* he mused looking over his slumbering team mates. He rolled his head loosening up his shoulders and neck before gathering clothing and heading into the bathroom.
The smell of brewing coffee woke up Kono. She sat up and looked around the room. Hmmm, two lumps still in the other bed. Which meant someone was up. Looking closer she grinned and went to dress.
"Hey, bro, what's for breakfast?" she asked as she entered the kitchen and poured out coffee for herself. Williams smirked.
"Last time I cooked I got in trouble," he said.
"Well, you look pretty well rested," she eyed him critically, "'cept maybe for the dark circles under your eyes."
"Sleep is a rare thing," he shrugged. He went over to the fridge and peered inside before rummaging in the veggie drawer.
"Anything good?" she asked.
"Stuff for omelettes, fresh fruit, probably toast," he mused.
"I'll do the cooking," Kono offered as she snagged the carton of eggs. Danny got out a sharp knife and began cutting up veggies for the filling.
The smell of onions and peppers hit Steve's nose. He lie there trying to decided where he was. Then he stretched slightly and nudged a body.
Which reacted.
Who knew Chin was such a nervous sleeper?
With a yell both men were flipped out of bed onto the floor; Chin glaring at the commander who in turn was glaring back. Danny came through the door.
"McGarrett! Kelly! Stop it!" he used his most authoritarian voice. Both men snapped to attention then sheepishly looked at one another.
"Sorry, bro," Chin grinned, embarrassed. He pushed up off the floor and offered his boss a hand up.
"Remind me never to startle you again," Steve said as he lifted up and shook the kinks from his back.
"Breakfast," Williams stated and left the two alone. Kono's laughter washed over them and they looked sadly at each other.
That woman was going to have fun teasing them!