**** Thanks as always for reading & reviewing ****

**** WARNING - this chapter begins with a VIOLENT CRIME - please be forewarned ****

Steve remained in the shower. His body was shaking with emotion as he remembered waking up as a ten year boy and having his entire view of the world change that on day…Saturday, September 2, 1986…..

His Dad had come into his room at about eight thirty and woke him up. As soon as he saw his Dad he knew something was horribly wrong. His eyes were puffy from crying and he could never remember EVER seeing his Dad cry. He was still in his police uniform and he looked scared and tired.

"Steve….something horrible has happened son"
He hesitated and Steve could still remember the unnerving feeling that pause had prompted, "Dad? What is it?"
"Two men who were on drugs broke into Brian Johnson's home last night to rob the house. Buddy….they shot everyone who was inside"
Steve had paused not quite understanding what his Father was telling him as he inquired, "Is everyone okay?"

"No Steve….these men killed everyone in the house"
He had sat up in bed, stunned as his brain tried to wrap around the words that he had just heard.
They sat quietly for a few minutes before Steve asked, "Did you catch the bad guys?"
"Not yet…..but we will, there were witnesses. Steve I know you loved your friends, I'm so very sorry"
He couldn't respond to his Father as he was in total shock. He obviously knew what death was, but he had never lost anyone close to him. As his Father pulled him to his chest and he heard the steady thumping of the man's heart he broke down and he cried. He cried for Jeff and Brian. He cried for his other two friends who had been at the party, Jamarcus and Robbie. He cried for Brian's parents and his younger sister, Libby. Seven innocent people killed in a act of unimaginable violence.

John McGarrett held him tightly as he too cried for the victims and for his son, whose childhood innocence had been lost forever. Steve now knew that there really were boogey-men out there. There were men who would take another's life for no good reason and he mourned for his son. He struggled to stay strong and to not shake as he thought about what could have been…Steve was supposed to have been there as well and if he had been…oh God what could have been. He felt so unbelievable blessed and grateful as he held his boy tightly.

Thinking back to that traumatic time in his life Steve remembered every painful moment so vividly. He hadn't thought about those lost friends for a while and he felt guilty about that. He had been fortunate enough to not have been there that night and he had experienced a lot of torment over surviving while his friends did not. His parents had done everything right in dealing with his emotions and he had never felt anything but overwhelming love and concern from them, or the parents of his lost friends. They had gone to family therapy for two years until he had finally been able to accept that there was a reason he was alive.

He could still see with vivid clarity his Mother holding him and comforting him while telling him that 'everything in life happens for a reason'…... with that memory he was overcome his pain and rage and he slammed his fist, once, twice…..a half dozen times against the tiled shower stall. He dropped to his knees and sobbed as tears streamed down his cheeks and he watched the red tinged water swirl down the drain from the broken and bloodied knuckles of his right hand. After several minutes he raised his aching body from the tub and wrapping his hand in a towel he dried himself off and not bothering to throw on any clothes he crawled into bed. Covering up he cradled his throbbing hand to his chest and closed his eyes.

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Chin and Danny took turns throughout the night sitting in the infirmary while the other would caught a couple hours of shut-eye in their room.
Danny entered the room at a little after six in the morning to find Kono sitting in a chair at Adam's side while he slept.
He smiled broadly, "Look at you! You're looking much better this morning"
"I'm feeling much better, thanks Danny. Maybe with you here, I can get some answers"
Danny looked at her and then glanced at Chin, "Answers about what?"
Chin raised his eyebrows and Kono asked, "What's wrong Danny? Where are Steve and Doris?"
"Kono….."
"GUYS, STOP PLEASE! I need to know….what's going on?"
Danny grabbed her hand, "Okay Kono…..…relax. We'll tell you everything, just calm down"
Danny sighed and then said softly, "Steve's getting some sleep. Kono, Doris took off. She left him a letter and disappeared"
"Oh God no…not again"
"Yeah"
"Is he okay?"
"Honestly? No…he's not" Tears were flowing down her cheeks as Danny wiped them away with his thumb, "Don't cry honey, we'll get him through this"

She said "I should have known…..I should have said something"
Chin and Danny glanced at each other before Danny said softly, "What are you talking about Kono?"
"Back at the safe-house Wo Fat said some horrible things to her…he had said, 'what kind of Mother abandons her children and places her son in such danger?' He also told her that Tan was dead because she had put him in danger. That she had killed him, just as she had killed John and endangered Steve"

Danny asked, "Did Doris say anything to you?"
Kono shook her head, "No…..but I saw the pain in her eyes Danny…."
She paused and Danny asked, "What else happened Kono?"
She spoke softly, "When we were in the van leaving the safe-house we heard gunshots and thought that they had killed Adam. I….I was quite upset and Wo Fat threatened to kill me. He said that Steve would find us dead and that he would know that he hadn't been able to protect us. He said he knew that Steve would never stop searching for him until he was dead, but that he would make sure that he suffered first…..he said he would kill us, then he would kill Chin, Joe and Catherine. Then he said when Steve thought he can handle no more, he would kill Danny and Gracie. He referred to Doris as 'Shelburne' and told her that every bit of pain Steve had, and would endure was because of her…..I should have known she would leave Danny…I should have told him"

"Did you get the impression she would hurt herself?"
"I think she would do anything to keep Steve safe"
"Kono, there's no way you could have known she would do this to him….not again"
"Oh God Danny….I feel so bad for him"
"I know, we all do"
"Guys, there's something else I need to tell you?"
Danny was still holding her hand and Chin moved in closer as she smiled softly, "I'm pregnant?"
Danny smiled and squeezed her hand as Chin hugged and kissed her saying, "Cous' that's fantastic! I'm so happy for both of you"
She looked at Danny, "So what do you think Uncle Danno?"
"Uncle Danno…I like the sound of that. This is great news Kono. Does Steve know?"
"Yes, Adam had told him when he came to yesterday. We just found out a couple of days ago"
Chin was all smiles as he said, "We all needed some good news…..Kono, you're going to be such a great Mom"

Their attention was drawn to the soft voice coming from the bed, "She's going to be the best Mommy ever"
Kono said happily, "Adam!" Chin helped her to her feet and she leaned over and kissed him tenderly on the lips, "Hi honey"
"Hi….how's your leg?"
"It's fine. How are you feeling?"
He lifted his hand and placed it on her cheek, "I feel so much better now knowing you're okay. Is Doris alright?"
She hesitated slightly, "Yes…she saved my life Adam"
"I'll have to make sure to thank her"
"You can't. She took off"
"What do you mean she took off"
Danny then spoke, "She left Steve a letter and disappeared. She went back into hiding"
"That's going to be hard on him"
Danny nodded, "Yeah it is….but he'll be okay. She's alive, you're all alive…that's what matters" He glanced at the clock on the wall, "In fact, I think I should go check on him. I'll be back shortly" He clutched Adam's hand and then kissed Kono's cheek before leaving the room.

**** Are you still enjoying? I hope you all enjoy your 4th of July Holiday! MORE TO FOLLOW ****