Thanks for reviews everyone! I'm just going to get right to it because well... some reviews have demanded more and me ranting on and on doesn't really get you there any faster does it?

I mean, I could launch into my process about how I right or how much depth I've put into my characters.

Or I could talk about the weather or the sky or puppies...

You hate me don't you? Lol. I'll shut up now. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 12

Steve McGarrett could feel the heat of rage pinking his face. He looked at his steering wheel in front of him and his white knuckles. The key was in the ignition and the vehicle was on but he'd yet to leave the parking lot outside Five-O head quarters. He needed to calm down before he drove anywhere.

Four days.

Four very long, very sleepless, very aggravating days since Danny had been taken. It infuriated Steve to no end because at the moment, it was the intelligence community that unfortunately had the reigns right now. Until he got the kill order, until he had something to kill, there was little else he and the team could do.

And that made him angry.

Jeff and Anders had been working together surprisingly well since all their information had been shared. They'd basically taken over Danny's office. Chin and Kono would zip in and out, following leads both online and on the street.

For the first day, Steve had grilled Gable for a solid 30 hours. He didn't let the man sleep, he didn't let the man stand up out of the chair he was in. He came extremely close to considering torture when Anders had finally walked in and said they were just wasting time.

When Gable had smiled at that, Steve had nearly physically attacked him. Had Anders not been there to stop him, there was a good chance the Navy SEAL would have killed the suspect sitting in that chair.

So they'd left him. Found the darkest, closeted solitary confinement cell at Halawa and stuck him in it. All the while, the man had just kept right on smiling as if going to prison had all been part of the plan. That had unnerved Steve to no end but it also fuelled his anger.

Which was why a few minutes ago he'd nearly thrown a punch at Anders. Once again, he and Chin had been sent on an errand to talk to the suppliers of the small piece of mine Steve had found at the blast sight days ago.

When they got their however, they were told the CIA had already confiscated any and all evidence and anyone who'd known anything about the shipment hadn't been heard from for days.

Steve had all but ripped the door off Danny's office door, grabbed Anders in a blind rage.

It took, Chin, Kono and Jeff to separate them and when they did, Chin ordered Steve to take a walk. And the SEAL knew he was sleep deprived and worked up but somewhere out there was Danny, his partner. The first person he'd had who actually made him think before risking his own life.

Sure Steve would still risk his life in a heartbeat if it was for the greater good but now, he would actually think that there would be hell to pay once he survived.

Now, Steve looked forward to "hell paying" with Danny. Never mind the fact that Steve found it absolutely hysterical when Danny really got going his hands would flail, his eyes would bulge and the vein on his neck pulsed in time with the occasional spittle that would launch from his rage frothed mouth. Their was something so simple and genuine about Danny's rants that it grounded Steve in a number of ways. Some he knew he hadn't even figured out yet.

So taking that into consideration, Steve had taken a deep breath and walked out of the room. He had to channel his inner "Danny" and calm down.

He'd gone to the break room for more caffeine. But the pot was empty and there wasn't anymore coffee in the entire office.

Why? It was Danny's turn to buy more and no one else had thought about it.

Something inside Steve had snapped, just completely broke right down the middle. Before he'd known what he was doing the Navy SEAL had sent the coffee pot flying across the room. It shattered seconds before he grabbed the entire machine and launched it to join the pot in its demise. Still jacked up on rage and lack of sleep, Steve had then put his fist through the break room door and screamed a scream worthy of the hounds of hell.

When the other's had come running and saw the situation, Chin, the only one who dared, gently guided Steve to the exit and told him to go home and take a break.

A tight squeeze on the shoulder and Steve knew he needed sleep. He was still sore from his own ordeals and it wouldn't do anyone any good if he had a full on break down. It wouldn't do Danny any good.

But before he could drive home, he needed to stop his hands from shaking. He'd only gotten his truck back a day ago and wasn't about to put it in a wreck again. He was just about to go back inside and tell Chin he needed someone to drive him when his cell rang.

Smiling as he saw it was the Hawaiian man calling with impeccable timing, Steve answered.

"Hey Chin, I'm still in the parking lot," he said. "I think I need someone to give me a ride."

"I'll be there in one minute but you're not going to want to go home," Chin replied. Steve took his other hand off the wheel and looked back at the building. Chin jogged out with Jeff hot on his heels and running to his own vehicle. Both Steve and Chin hung up their phones as the Hawaiian got to the truck.

After they'd switched places and watched Jeff tear out of the parking lot, Chin pulled out with a severe look on his face.

"Chin what's going on?" Steve asked.

"Wright just got a call," Chin explained as he drove. "Lieutenant Percy was picked from the water just off the coast of Maui. He's in rough shape and Army Evac is flying him here to Queens." Steve sucked in a breath as he jammed on his seat belt to allow Chin to drive faster.

"Any sign of Danny or the others?" he asked.

"Sorry brah," Chin replied. "It's just Everett." Steve shook his head hoping to good that Danny and the others were still alright. Still, if Everett had made it out, then maybe Danny would be next to follow.

"What the hell was he doing in the waters off Maui?" Steve asked.

"No idea," Chin replied. "We'll find out… Are you okay?" Steve had to take a moment to collect himself and realize Chin was asking him a question. The two glanced at each other before Steve just looked out the window.

"I'm tired but I'm okay," he replied. Then with a wince of embarrassment he added, "Sorry about early."

"No worries brah," Chin smiled. "We needed a new coffee pot anyway."

They made it to the hospital in record time. Steve and Chin were steps behind Jeff as they charged through the halls toward the reception desk. Jeff opened his mouth when a man in scrubs came up to them.

"Five 0 and Commander Wright?" he asked. The three men blinked in surprise.

"Yes?" Jeff replied. The doctor smiled and jerked his head behind him. "The lieutenant is severely exhausted, dehydrated and has a bullet wound but he's refusing treatment until he speaks to you all. So follow me gentlemen, the faster this happens the faster I can treat him."

"Lead the way," Jeff nodded eagerly.

Moments later they were led into a hospital room where the lieutenant lay on the bed looking half alive. What skin that wasn't covered in gauze was red as a lobster with sunburn. His left arm was tightly held to his side in a sling, his lips were chapped and his eyes were half mast with delirium.

"Jesus, Ev," Jeff breathed. The worn man tried to open his eyes a little more. When he finally locked on his guests, an odd smile cross his damaged lips. A second later and he let out a chuckle.

"Can't believe it worked," Jeff croaked. "Or it didn't and I'm in hell." Chin, Jeff and Steve all looked at one another in confusion before turning back to the injured man.

"Ev, I know you're hurting right now but I need you to tell me where the others are," Jeff asked. Everett grunted and closed his eyes, for a moment, Steve thought the man had fallen asleep. But then the intelligence officer's eyes flew open once again.

"Kaho'olawe," he blurted out. "The Sub, the crew… Williams, they're all there… Jenny?" Jeff put a gentle hand on his subordinates shoulder.

"She's alright Percy," he replied. "She's been carefully watched by people I trust and in a secure location. We'll get her here as soon as we can." Everett closed his eyes once again as his bottom lip quivered a little.

"He was going to kill her," the young lieutenant squeaked. "I had to do it. I had to change the codes." Steve glanced at Chin and was glad to see the man was honed in on what was going on. No doubt, the Hawaiian would be able to recount this conversation word for word later.

Taking a chance, Steve stepped forward drawing Everett's tired eyes.

"Whatever you did you didn't have a choice," he said. "These people are evil, we know that… Lieutenant I need you to tell me what happened to you." Everett licked his parched lips before grunting once again. It was clear he was fighting the urge to pass out.

"Had to swim to Oahu," he slurred.

"What?" Jeff asked. The lieutenant gave another out-of-place smile.

"Williams…" he croaked. "He shot me… was the only way I could swim away." Steve's heart stopped dead in his chest, skipped a beat then did the samba.

"He what?" he asked. Everett smiled, grinned as his eyes slid shut.

"Everett," Jeff said leaning in a little more. "Detective Williams shot you?"

"W. W. M. D," was the delirious reply.

"We're going to get you help kid," Jeff said for lack of anything better. "Then we can talk. Jenny will be here when you wake up."

"What would McGarrett do," Everett slurred out with another laugh. Steve snapped his head back and puckered his face.

"What?" he echoed again. This time, when Everett's eyes closed they seemed to refuse to open.

"Saved m'life, Garrett," the man slurred. "Gotta save D'nny's too."

A second later and a the doctor came in shoving the three men back.

"Okay, we need to get this man taken care of. We'll let you know when he can see visitors again," he ordered.

Forced out of the hospital room, Steve regrouped with the others, ignoring his fatigue and pain.

"We need to get eyes on Kaho'olawe," he said. Chin nodded.

"I'll call Anders and get him looking."

"And I'll get intel to use any and all satellites they have," Jeff added. "We're going to have to be careful about this. We let Dartelli know where's looking at him-"

"-And he disappears never to be heard from again. At least until he starts World War Three," Chin sighed.

"There's something I don't get," Jeff said. "Why would he want Everett to chance the codes on the ship?" Steve thought about it for a moment but then snapped his fingers.

"Because he's still intending on selling the originals to the Chinese," he replied. Then his eyes grew with revelation, "Which means he still needs someone on the outside to broker the deal. That's why Gable was still here on the island. We need to find out what he knows." Jeff sighed.

"We didn't get anything out of him and you damn near hung him by his toenails," he said. "What are you thinking? Water boarding?"

"We didn't get anything because he had nowhere to go," Steve replied. "Let's give him somewhere to go." Both Chin and Jeff just looked at him in confusion. Steve smiled, "I think it's time Anders put his CIA credentials to work."

While Jeff stayed at the hospital Chin and Steve had headed back to the office. Amazingly when they had gotten there, there was a new coffee maker and a fresh pot brewing. Where it came from, Steve had no idea but he soon had a full mug before he'd explained his idea to the group. Now Anders was looking at him as if he'd grown a third head.

"Let me get this straight," the Jersey agent said. "You want me to jailbreak Reed and then let him escape? And how exactly do we keep and eye on him?"

"Implant," Steve replied. Anders sat back and flailed his arms in a very Jersey way. God Steve missed Danny.

"Coarse, what was I thinking," he said sarcastically. "I'll just ask him nicely to inject him before I break him out of prison." Steve shook his head.

"I'll come in last second, pretend I'm only just finding out what you're doing," he explained. "I'll attack him and stick him in the process." Anders looked at Steve, really looked at him hard and then to the others in the room.

"And you two, you're on board with this insanity?" he asked. Chin and Kono both shrugged.

"We're kind of used to it by now," Chin replied.

"And it's not all that insane," Kono replied. "Our plan doesn't involve anyone having to take a bullet." As Steve had explained his plan he'd also let them know how they believe Everett had ended up going for a swim.

The idea was crazy, even for Steve it seemed like to much of a risk but it had worked and that's what mattered.

Anders shook his head.

"You guys really are Wills partners," he sighed. "Alright, let's do this."

The whole process didn't take long. With Anders mic'd up so Steve knew when to come, he could hear the man barking orders to people and flashing his CIA ID all over the place. Finally Anders arrived at Reeds holding cell.

"Ha," Reed snorted. "I knew you were bloody CIA. So what's the plan? You drag me to an island with no name and torture me?"

"Sorry to disappoint you Gable but the only place we're going is Langley," Anders said. "I'm tired of Five 0 and the Navy getting in the way of my big boy work. Get up, we're leaving on the next flight out of here." The clatter of cuffs was heard and shuffling of feet.

"You're seriously taking me out of here by yourself?" Reed asked. "Ballsy I'll give ya that."

"Shut up and walk Gable," Anders snarled. "The sooner I get you back the sooner no one ever hears from you again." Taking that as a go ahead, Steve excited the room he and Chin had used to listen in and started down the hall.

Perfect timing as Anders and Gable rounded the corner just as he did.

"What the… What the hell is going on?" Steve growled. "Where are you taking him O'Reilly?"

"Away from you," Anders said. "I've had enough of you and your people getting in the CIA's way on this."

"Reed's mine, he's part of my investigation," Steve played out. "You can't take him anywhere."

"Lads, there's enough of me to go around," Gable chuckled.

"Shut up." Steve and Anders barked simultaneously.

"Look, McGarrett, I'm sorry about your partner, I am but I've got National security on my side," Anders replied. "Move." Steve grabbed Gable's arm and gave him a tug.

"No," he growled.

"Oh boys, I'm touched I mean so much," Reed grinned.

"One more word," Steve snarled. "One more word and I swear I'll rip that smirk off your scum bag face." Reed's eyes flared up like Steve knew they would and the man's smile grew even wider. He was the type of person who got off on people's frustration and anger. The man wasn't a loyal countrymen and fierce fighter like some of the other SAS Steve had met in his travels. This guy was just a punk with a war fetish.

"I bet you Williams is already half way to the bottom of the ocean," Reed went on. "Probably wondered why his big bad SEAL couldn't save him. Eh Navy? How's your conscience today?" Now that did get Steve angry. He'd been beating himself up since Danny went missing and the idea that he might be to late was not acceptable.

With a little more force than necessary Steve slammed Reed into the wall and gave him a solid punch to the gut. What Reed didn't know was that the ring on Steve's finger had a small pressure mechanism. The punch, injected the smallest of microchips into the criminal's skin.

"McGarrett!" Anders barked. He grabbed Steve and shoved him away. "This is why you can't be a part of this anymore. Now we're leaving!" The two men marched off and disappeared. A moment later Chin stepped out of his hiding spot and grinned.

"Nice shot," he said. Steve gave a half-smile back, it felt good to hit Reed again but it had been a risk. He just hopped the risks would start paying off.

"Kono's got eyes on Kaho'olawe," Chin said breaking Steve from thought. "Says you're not going to believe the images she's getting."

"Then let's get back," Steve ordered.

Kono was staring at the screens before her when the two men came in. She barely glanced back.

"Navy Intel has a satellite sending us images every five minutes," she explained staring at the screen. "This was the most recent one." Steve and Chin stepped closer and looked at the sandy shore of the uninhabited island.

"Is that a doc?" Chin asked.

"Yeah, looks pretty recent too," Kono nodded. "Big enough for a Sub to load and unload I'd say." Steve frowned.

"So where's the Sub and it's crew?" And Danny, didn't really need to be said. Because sure enough, though the sand leading to the dock was clearly disturbed and there was a neat line heading back to the tree line. There was no Sub, no nothing. "We missed them," Steve cursed.

"Not necessarily, watch this," Kono told them. She flipped to a different image that was no normal picture. The colours were odd and it was like looking into a negative with red, orange, white and yellow blurs. The interesting thing was, the inferred image showed a massive cold spot right inside the jungle where there should have been heat.

"What is that?" Steve asked.

"Did my homework boss," Kono said. "That is a test bunker. It was built to see how it could withstand all the bombings but it is a full capable bunker. The guys who've been going over to clear the island even stay there sometimes but a year the project was put on hold. There's still dangerous ordinates all over but they believe they've gotten the most serious stuff."

Steve got even closer to the screen, almost as if he could reach into it and pull Danny right out.

"We need to find out if there's anyone in there," Steve said. Kono nodded.

"Anders friends at Langley are positioning one of their own satellites that should have more power to see heat signatures inside the bunker. It'll also be a live feed," she explained. "They'll have something within a half hour."

"Good," Steve nodded. Just then his phone rang and he put it on speaker. "McGarrett."

"Didn't even make the airport," Anders replied with a sigh. "Stopped at a gas station because he said he had to piss. And before you ask, yes, I knew it was a lie." Steve's gut churned, he'd experienced the former SAS skills first hand.

"Are you alright?" he asked. Anders grunted.

"Choke hold wasn't all that fun," he replied. "I woke up alone in the bathroom. Gable and my rental gone. So's you know he could have killed me with your little plan McGarrett."

"The plain clothes HPD were with you the whole time," Steve replied as if it was no big deal. "They would have pulled you out if they thought you needed it."

"The choke hold wasn't enough to send them in?" Anders asked incredulously. Steve leaned over his phone on the table.

"We needed Reed to believe he was getting away," he replied. "Had to make it look real. They were instructed to step in only if they thought you were in real danger." There was a pause over the line before Anders spoke again.

"You're punishing me," he growled. "That's why I was the perfect man for the job and not just some undercover. You're still pissed about this CIA thing!" Standing up again Steve reached for his phone.

"You did good Spook," he replied. Then hung up before the Jersey man could say anymore. Chin and Kono both looked at him with raised eyebrows.

"What?"

"That's cold brah," Kono said even though a smile was creeping across her lips.

The phone rang again and seeing Anders number again Steve rolled his eyes and answered;

"If you're after an apology you aren't going to get one."

"Oh I never do anything I'll soon regret," Answered an all to familiar voice. Chin and Kono went wide-eyed as Steve leaned in menacingly.

"Cahill," he growled. "Where's Anders?"

"Tied up at the moment," Jackson replied. "Now we have business to discuss McGarrett so I'm going to be a good boy and chauffeur your CIA friend here back to the office." Steve locked eyes on his team as if they could give him some sort of read on the situation.

"What business is that?" he asked.

"I've hacked into Dart's high secure communications, I did put half those systems together by the way. Long story short I now know what he's planning on doing with that Sub," Jackson explained. At this point in the game, Steve was almost afraid to ask.

"What's that?" he dared anyway.

"Uh uh uh," Cahill tutted. "I'll see you soon Commander. Don't worry I wont hurt Agent O'Reilly… much." And damn it all if Steve couldn't hear that psychotic grin.

"What do you want from me?" Steve growled fearing he already knew the answer.

"Detective Danny Williams, Steven," Jackson replied. "I want my chew toy but I'd very much prefer for this other mess to go away first."

"I'm not going to hand him over to you," Steve spat.

"Steven… you're not going to have a choice," Jackson chuckled. "Not with the information I'm bringing to you. Try not to shoot me when I get there, I'd hate to have to abduct you again." With that the line went dead and everyone in the room was silent, deep in thought.

However the *ping* of a new message popped up on the table and all smiles were gone. Kono quickly opened it then opened the link on their computer table and zoomed in the image so they could all see.

Small birds zipped this way and that clearly showing the feed was live. But what had Steve's heart racing was a single but large warm patch that seemed to be under thick layers of the bunker's concrete. It was clearly the shape of a body.

A body that wasn't moving.

"Danno," Steve sucked in a breath.

"Move Danny, come on," Chin exhaled for the both of them.

"Boss look!" A single figure emerged next to the still figure on the ground.

"Get up Danny! Get up!" Steve yelled. The downed person twitched a little as if hearing Steve's command and looked to be raising a hand in surrender. But the looming figure didn't hesitate, he raised his hand and there was a bright flash. The figure on the ground went deathly still.

Steve couldn't breath, he couldn't even fathom that this would be the image in his head when he told Gracie her dear father was gone. The other figure made his way from the room, once again being blocked out by concrete just to thick to penetrate.

"Danny," Kono whispered. Steve closed his eyes, he needed to keep it together. He needed to be the leader that the SEALS and then Danny had turned him into.

"Shut it off," Steve said quietly. Thankfully Chin did as asked without a word allowing Steve to open his eyes again.

"Boss?" Chin asked quietly as Kono was concentrating on fighting her tears.

"I want on that island by midnight," he said. Chin gave a nod so Steve turned on his heels and into his office closing the door behind him.

He fell into his desk chair and looked to the photo on his desk. Danny, Chin and Kono with their arms wrapped around Grace. In that picture, Steve found his ultimate resolve; He'd deal with the devil himself even if it meant just getting Danny's body so it could be properly buried.

With Cahill, minutes out… he just might end up doing exactly that.

Cliffie's make chapter stories so much fun! So do teasers...

Next time on Jersey Slip:

"Have I got your attention?" Cahill asked innocently.

"You've got the world's attention," Steve hissed.

"Good." Then with all the strength Jackson had, drove the pen he was holding, into Steve's arm.

There you go friends! Almost to the end game! Enjoy!