AN: Many mahalos goes to all my readers and reviewers :-) To those I haven't/couldn't thank personally - THANK YOU for your reviews. Special thanks goes to my beta who rocks!

Chapter 13

(*Edited by "Book 'em Again")

With his back pressed against the wall at the rear of the house, Dan gave the signal for the two HPD officers to stand at either side of the back door. Next, he motioned for Kono to cover him as he prepared to make his move. Reaching inside his jacket, he drew out his pistol from its holster. Every muscle in his body was taut as he grabbed the door handle. Finding that it didn't budge, Dan used the butt of his pistol to shatter the glass panel as discreetly as he could. He hoped the noise of breaking glass wouldn't attract unwanted attention from within the house. Carefully slipping his hand through the opening he just created, the detective unlocked the door from the inside. With a curt nod in Kono's direction, Dan tried the door handle once more then pushed it open slowly. As he walked inside the home, he kept his .38 at the ready. Keen blue eyes sought for any flicker of movement as he progressed through the kitchen. Behind him, he could feel Kono's presence as he made a sharp turn and wrenched open a door that led into the laundry. As they reached the entrance to the kitchen, the two young men stood on either side of the doorway. Dan peered around, taking great care to keep his body concealed as he checked to see if they were in the clear. Re-adjusting his grip on the gun, Dan drew a deep breath and proceeded into the hallway. He motioned for Kono to take one end of the hall which branched off into other doorways that he suspected to be the bedrooms and bathroom.

Separated from Kono and in unfamiliar territory, Dan trained all his senses to the sights and sounds around him as he crept down the hallway, his body brushing against the wallpaper.

Chin Ho Kelly's round face was a contortion of pain and sorrow as he listened in on what transpired in the log cabin where Steve McGarrett was held hostage. He could hear Dr. Lee's stammering voice through the headphones as he played out his part, followed by the anguished shout of his boss and friend. The sounds of blows raining down against a person's body replaced Steve's verbal responses. Chin grinded his teeth and tightened his grip on the steering wheel in front of him. On a professional level, he discerned the best thing for Steve would be to wait for Danny's order before they made their move but, personally, he wished he could do something more active to end his friend's suffering. As resilient as Steve was to his own physical discomforts, Chin knew the top cop was not impervious to the emotional damage inflicted on him by Stoss. Still, the seasoned detective endured the painstaking wait as his duty and wisdom commanded. Stealing a brief glance at Duke Lukela in the passenger seat beside him, he could see the furrow etched deeply on the sergeant's face, a testimonial to how they both perceived the situation.

The one blessing was Dan was absent from the scene. . Chin and Duke were both familiar with the bond the young man shared with Steve and the over zealousness in Dan's temper when those he cared about were in harm's way. Silently they both wondered if Dan had deliberately put forth his plan of action that ensured he was placed at the Lee's home and not at the cabin. Exhaling sharply, Chin forced his wound up muscles to uncoil as he strained his ears to hear Stoss's next words.

The emotional pain that wrenched his heart apart was far more overwhelming than Steve could ever imagine it to be. Five-O was his ohana. Dan was like a younger brother to him while Chin was not just one hell of a cop but a doting father and husband. Kono. He could never forget the young Hawaiian's jovial face and his sense of loyalty. Then there was Jenny. Why? The answer to his question left a lingering burning sensation within him. Vengeance. Grief made way for anger. Steve raised his head and defiantly sought Stoss's gaze.

Dan spotted the front door ahead of him as he walked down the hall. He could hear the regular rhythms of footsteps nearby and a man's voice speaking in a foreign language. The noise grew louder, the nearer he got to an alcove that opened up to his left. Pausing at the entrance of what he suspected was the living room, Dan took several even breaths to prepare himself. Using the sound of footsteps as a guide, he made a quick mental calculation to locate where the suspect was positioned in the room. Without a bullet proof vest, Dan accepted the risks involved as he leapt away from the wall at a crouch, his gun held out in front of him in a firm grip.

"Freeze! Five-O! Drop your weapon and put your hands up!" Dan shouted into the room. A light sheen of sweat coated the detective's face and he licked his dry lips as he aimed the gun at the criminal. His judgement proved reliable as the crook stood dumbstruck in his line of fire. The semi-automatic pistol slipped from his fingers and landed on the floor at his feet. Hurried footsteps signalled Kono's arrival. Dan kept his gun trained on the man in front of him. He could hear the gasps and whimpers belonging to a woman and child sounding nearby but he dared not peal his eyes away from the dangerous suspect. "Book him, Kono."

The Hawaiian detective re-holstered his weapon and placed the radio on the table next to him then pulled out a set of hand cuffs.

The front door burst open with a resounding crash as HPD officers stormed the house.

Picking up the pistol from the floor, Kono placed it into his jacket pocket then frisked the slender fair haired man for concealed weapons and identification. Confiscating a pocket knife from the man's jeans pocket, the detective also found a wallet with the man's photo identification card tucked inside a clear sleeve. "Pierre Scholtz. Amsterdam," Kono read out loud as he faced Dan.

"Get him out of here," Dan instructed as Kono placed the cuffs on the perpetrator's wrist and read him his rights. Replacing his revolver in the holster, Dan turned his attention to Lee's family. A young girl with her knees drawn up to her chest sat on the sofa, her mother's arms circled around her protectively. Dan gave the two huddled figures a small smile as he slowly approached them.

"Thank you," Anne Lee said breathlessly, as relief washed through her.

Dan nodded. "Are you or your daughter hurt?"

"No, just scared," the oriental woman replied. Her relief was short lived as she thought about the life of her brother. "Where is my brother? Is he alright?"

"We're doing everything we can to ensure the safe return of your brother and another hostage," Dan reassured the fretting woman before he turned to leave the house.

One down. Five-O's second in command prayed for luck to be with Chin and Duke as he hurried to his LTD, reached through the window and grabbed the radio receiver from beneath the dash. "Williams to Central. Patch me through to Kelly."

"Go ahead, Danny," Chin responded.

"The hostages are safe. We apprehended the suspect. Is everyone in position?"

"Affirmative. All units are ready. We're moving in."

"Good. I'm on my way. 10-4," Dan replaced the receiver and pulled open the driver side door. Hold on Steve. With a squeal of tires spinning on the road, Dan sped away from the scene.

Chin yanked off the head phones and nodded to Duke. "Let's go, Bruddah!"