Chapter 11: Who Am I?

Danny protested as they exited the hospital, all the way to street level where Steve's truck was parked shockingly close to the Camaro and then he gave in.

"Steve, would you mind if I just took a moment with Peter? You can follow us, or lead, I don't care, but I'd like to talk to Peter alone." Danny said as he stopped before the vehicle.

"More secrets?" Steve asked, he was hurt by the request.

"No, and generally speaking I prefer for you to be involved in this but Peter and I need to discuss how I've changed and I need to figure out how this interrogation is going to go without your influence."

"Maybe it would be better if you two did this interrogation. You're the partners here. I'm just a third wheel," Peter offered.

"But that's not the plan. That has none of the intimidation factor that Steve is going for by taking me along. If that were the case he would have been cool with the two of you on the outing but he insisted that I be there, which tells me he wants a Jersey affect that I lost in the ten years I've been here." Danny explained before Steve could say anything.

"You want the ride to feel like partners again?" Steve asked.

"You know, I've had a partner all my career except that short period of time between Meka and Steve. I know how to be a partner. I thought I could go at this alone but I can't. I just don't know how to be me in this situation." Danny admitted.


"Detective, it's time and we feel that the best way to get you back on the job is to partner you up again." Commander Colton stated as he stared across his desk at the young man before him.

"Look, this world is completely fucked up, pardon my language, and I'm not that guy anymore. I have a family to think about now. A baby on the way, way soon. A mother in law who wants to see me do something greater with my life and maybe she's right. If that will bring peace to my world, then maybe I should do it." Danny explained as he stood and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Maybe I don't want to be reckless anymore. Maybe I don't need to get back on this job but find something else. Maybe I was wrong and I'm not cut out to be a cop. I got my partner killed. That's on me. I don't need another partner to drag through the mud. I need to figure out who I have become and where I should be going."

"Who better to help you do that than Peter Verardo?" Colton asked. "We know the two of you have a long, deep, history."

"Peter's family. When I need him I go to him," Danny retorted.

"I think you need me," Peter said as he walked in. "I don't like what I'm hearing. Danny Williams not a cop? That's like saying the sun won't rise anymore."

"You've got work to finish, Detective Williams," Colton added. "And you're going to do it."

"The Machiavelli family needs your attention, D," Peter said and held out the file, the same file that Grace has used before. "It's what you've always wanted only this time I'll be walking with you as your partner. No longer like my little brother. We are equals now."

"I'm gonna get you killed, Peter. You have three kids at home, a wife who loves you. I can't," Danny said what a shake of his head.

"What happened to the five year plan?" Peter asked.

"I was foolish," Danny answered and walked out of the office.

"Do you think she'd stand for his?" Peter called after him. "Is this any way to finish what Grace started?" He added to Danny's back.

Danny spun around and stared down the man who had known him all his life.

"She's not the only one we lost that day. Did we lose you too?" Peter asked.

"No," Danny answered.

"Are you sure?" Peter asked. "Because she'd be the one to kick your ass out of this. Now come on, Grace had made an awesome start on the Machiavelli case. You owe her as much to finish it."

"Gimme the file," Danny huffed as he rushed toward Peter and snatched it out of his hands.

"Does this mean you'll work with me? Are we partners?" Peter asked mockingly.

"You might live to regret this." Was Danny's response.

"I'll live," Peter joked as they passed Colton's office and he winked at the commander as his desk.


"Fine go," Steve huffed and fled for his truck.

"Did you hurt his feelings?" Peter asked as they fell into Danny's car.

"I'm sure I did," Danny sighed, "but he'll live. If anything he's jealous of you."

"He's the one that asked for me to come here."

"And he's the one who wanted us paired up again." Danny added.

"And what do you need Danny?" Peter asked more seriously now as they pulled away from the hospital.

"What would my life be had I quit like I had planned?" Danny asked.

"No one would be here to protect you or the kids today." Peter answered. "The Pelagios would still blame you. Izzy would still come for you. You would just be so much more vulnerable than you are now. This team, the task-force you've always wanted, they will fix this and McGarrett is as ruthless as you once were."

Danny remained silent as he drove.

"And yet he's just letting you wallow. What has happened to you here?" Peter asked.

"I grew up a lot. I have so much more responsibility and Rachel is dead. How am I supposed to act in this situation?" Danny asked.

"You're supposed to be pissed off. The Danny I knew, that kid I grew up with, who was my shadow for years and then who surpassed me in everything I ever did, he would get mad. He'd be pissed off and hell bent. What has life done to you?"

"I've lost too many people. Getting angry clouds my judgement and I get sloppy." Danny answered.

"That sounds like the commanders answer to that question, like it's right out of the book." Peter said almost huffed in anger. "That's a line I've give you just to piss you off and you'd never listen. So why now?"

"Because when I got here and I was picked up by McGarrett, after I'd tried on my own, I saw myself and everything I'd ever done. And he's reckless and doesn't play by the rules and when that happens people die. You make enemies and end up running all the rest of your life." Danny yelled. "That's what chased Rachel away in the first place and landed me on this God forsaken rock."

"That doesn't make you any less the detective that you were then," Peter spoke softer than usual. "Do you have that much resentment for yourself and your partner?"

"I've just passed the torch. Steve can handle it now," Danny huffed.

"It's not Steve's case. It's yours," Peter said with a shake of his head. "You made the deal with the devil for Izzy. You get to deal with what comes out the other end. We're going to help you but you know this is the only way."

"Maybe Eliza was right," Danny sighed. "We don't get lives."

"Eliza has never been right a day in her life." Peter laughed. "You're just way too dark for your own good. I'd like the old Danny to come out to play. You can have fifteen minutes to wake his sorry ass up. Pull over there." Peter ordered and pointed at a Walgreens on the corner.

"You're not serious." Danny said sarcastically.

"You dragged me all the way to this rock for Izzy Pelagio," Peter said as he looked at Danny. "A case that was never mine but I'm here for you and I find you on the sidelines? Yes, Daniel I'm serious. Pull over!"

Danny pulled into the Walgreens parking lot and Steve followed them in. Peter went for the door and Danny stayed behind.

"Did you get the pep-talk you needed?" Steve asked as he joined Danny by the car. "Or are you two hiding more things from me and this team?"

"Hiding things?" Danny asked with a sarcastic laughed that told Steve more about Danny's current mental state than any words would ever say. "Hawaii was supposed to be my fresh start, with new people and new problems. You can take the boy outta Jersey but never the Jersey outta the boy. I was foolish to think any differently. The only thing I've been hiding is how similar we are." Danny spat on the ground and rounded the car once more as Peter reappeared out of the store.

"What do you mean by that?" Steve asked.

"Watch and learn," Danny said and fell back into his seat.

"What did you say to him?" Steve asked as Peter neared the car.

"Hopefully just what he needed to hear. You'll have your partner back in no time." Peter said and then jumped into the car as well.

"Keep up," Danny shouted at Steve and peeled outta the parking lot sirens blaring and tires squealing.