Phantom
By
Landon Richardson
Official Disclaimer
The characters of Lieutenant commander Steven 'Steve' McGarrett, Chin Ho Kelly, Officer Kono Kalakaua, Adam 'Toast' Charles, Meka Hanamoa, Amy Hanamoa, Billy Hanamoa Mary McGarrett, John McGarrett, Steven McGarrett (Steve's grandfather/namesake) and Doctor Max Bergman do not belong to me in any shape or form. I am merely using them for my own entertainment purposes.
The characters of Danielle 'Danni' Williams, although originally based on the male Danny Williams on the show, is probably different enough that she can be considered her own creation since she has a different background and different personality to her male counterpart. This also in turns changes Grace to an extent as Danni has full custody but also a civil relationship with Grace's father which reflects in the way Grace is. I should also add that Grace's surname is Taylor as Williams is Danni's maiden name which she reverted back to after her divorce was finalised.
The characters of Doctor Rosamund 'Rosie' Lange, Lieutenant Colonel David Williams, Special Agent Jack O'Connor, Lieutenant commander Riley King and Lieutenant Louisa Palakiko-Cowan are mine as well. Any other character who might pop up who you don't instantly recognise will probably belong to me as well. I'll hopefully catch them in time to put above though.
Author Notes
It's been quite the while since I brought you guys a new chapter of this story and I'm sorry for that delay.
I could offer a million excuses as to why it took so long but I won't bore you with those reason other than to say that I'm juggling a lot of stories (My own fault I know) so sometimes being able to find the time to sit down and get one done can sometimes take a while.
Please feel free to send me a message and prod at me if there is a particular story you really want to see the next chapter on. I may not get to it instantly but if the seed has been planted then it probably will mean that I will get to it a lot quicker than I might have done otherwise.
The world I'm building here is one which I really love so even though this is technically a one off story there is a good chance that not only will it be a long one but that I will revisit the word through timestamps. Whether there will be another chapter story I don't know. At the moment it's a no but I did say the same thing about the model saga and now I'm on the second chapter story with a one shot due shortly so… never say never I guess.
There's nothing more to say other than I hope you enjoy this newest chapter!
Overall Summary
Danni Williams had known since the age of five that she wasn't quite like everyone else and had learned to deal with it… or rather she had learned to deal with it right up to the point she was dragged into 50, now suddenly keeping her secret is harder than ever before and when it comes out, things aren't going to be pretty. (McDanni saga)
Chapter Summary
Danni led the way out of her house, aware of the fact that Steve was right behind her, gravitating into her personal space.
Overall Romance
Steve McGarrett / Danni Williams (McDanni)
Chin Ho Kelly / Malia Waincroft (Chalia)
Kono Kalakaua / Charlie Fong (KoFo)
Mentions of past Duncan Taylor / Danni Williams (Dunni)
Mentions of past Steve McGarrett / Catherine Rollins (McRollins)
Chapter Romance
Hints of Steve McGarrett / Danni Williams (McDanni)
Other Notes
~ Point one – Please be aware that nearly all of the locations which are used in this story are either from the internet (thank you Google!) or made up by me. I claim no knowledge of Hawaii having never been there before.
~ Point two – Although this story is technically part of the Danni and uses many characters from the universe, it is to be considered an A/U of the world and not one which is reflect or affect any of the other stories I write unless stated otherwise.
Chapter Thirteen
The Morgue
Danni led the way out of her house, aware of the fact that Steve was right behind her, gravitating into her personal space. With anyone else she would have quickened her pace in an effort to put some distance between them but it was different with Steve. She felt comfortable with him near her, safe almost, which was a feeling that she wasn't used to feeling often.
She remained silent, her mind whirling with everything that had happened that day. God only knew how many of their laws she had broken, she must have taken leave of her senses but she couldn't find it in her to feel bad about it. Things were changing and not necessarily for the better, if they were going to survive than they needed to adapt, it was as simple as that. She had never been one of those people who stuck their head in the sand and hope for the best, she had always been someone who would look for answers regardless of where they led her. It was part of the reason she was such a good Detective, but it was also something which had gotten her into trouble in the past. Having someone like Steve guarding her back made sense. He knew what he was doing after all and had the ability to back up his advice.
She blinked, looked over her shoulder at Steve with a questioning look when she felt his large hand curl gently round her elbow bringing her to a halt in front of her car.
"You're not driving Danni" He instructed, a firm note to his voice which told her that he was digging his heels in over his decision. "In case it's slipped your notice, you spent a good portion of this morning lying unconscious in a hospital bed. You may be feeling better but I'm still not going to risk it so hand over the keys. I'll take us to where we need to go today."
For a brief moment Danni thought about arguing the point but she pushed it aside. His argument made sense and it would be better with him behind the wheel today. It would give her a chance to bring him up to date with hers and Meka's original investigation. She glanced down, unzipping the side pocket of her bag and pulled out the car keys, handing them over to him before she made her way to the passenger seat. As soon as he had unlocked it she pulled the door open and climbed in, closing it behind her.
"Where are Meka and your brother?" Steve asked as he climbed into the car, shooting her a questioning look. He waited until she had placed her seatbelt on before sticking the key in the ignition and turning the engine on. Danni turned to look at him.
"I've sent them both to the original crime scene to see what they can pick up from it." She commented watching the way his face fell into a questioning frown. She could almost see the thoughts running through his head. For a moment she thought he was going to remain silent but instead he spoke.
"The scene we were at this morning?"
Danni shook her head.
"The scene from the original cases" She corrected.
"Those scenes are a year old Danni how can they get anything from them?" He demanded, shooting her an incredulous look. Danni remained quiet merely turning to look at him. "Right" he said after a moment of searching her eyes, his hands gripping the wheel tightly. "Evolved, latent stuff?"
Danni nodded, ignoring the feeling of guilt which came over her at his words. She knew that he wanted to know all the facts but there were certain things she couldn't tell him, not yet. Things which didn't concern him. If her brother decided to tell Steve and the others what he could do then that was up to him but she couldn't do it for him. She had already made a mistake by revealing what Meka could do. She owed her friend an apology for that.
"Yeah, Evolved, latent stuff" She said softly, staring out of the window screen. They fell silent for a few moments before Steve spoke.
"Does it hurt?" He asked, attracting her attention back to him. "When you communicate with the dead. Does it hurt you?"
Danni shrugged her shoulder, considering his question for a moment.
"Not in the way you think, for me they are just like anyone else." She told him softly, tapping her fingertips against her thigh.
"So why did you collapse if it doesn't hurt you?" He pressed.
"Because it's draining Steve, it takes a lot to be able to link the worlds like I do, I held on too long to try and give you and your father time to talk. He's been begging for the chance since the moment I first saw him." Danni answered after a moment pause, speaking before he could answer her anything else. "Steve, I know you still have questions but I was being serious. I need to focus on this case and I need you to as well. These elementals are extremely dangerous, more dangerous than you know. For a Latent or an Evolved to use their ability against one of The normal is strictly against our laws."
"Have you ever idea what has set them off?" Steve asked her, turning his head briefly to look at her before he looked back at the road.
"I won't know until I talk to them, something has set them off but I don't know what that is." She replied sounding concerned.
"You'll figure out Danni, we just need to find them" Steve told her, resisting the urge to take his hand off the wheel to take hers. It felt as though something had shifted between the two of them, he just wasn't sure what it was which was different.
"We will" She stated firmly. "Looks like we're here"
"So we are" Steve stated, hitting the indicator and pulling the car into the morgue car park and pulling into the first available spot he could see. They climbed out the car, Danni looking around her thoughtfully while Steve locked up before they moved into the building which housed the morgue.
Steve couldn't help but look around him carefully, his eyes lingering on all the faces around him wondering whether any of them were Latents or Evolved. There was clearly some way to tell because David had had no problem in the hospital with knowing who was who. He needed to learn what the signs were if he was going to be able to keep Danni safe from harm. Harm which his father had already warned him could befall his partner.
"If you keep thinking so hard then your head will explode Steve" Danni commented, attracting his attention to her.
"Funny" He remarked, rolling his eyes even as his mouth curled into a smile as she shot him a quick grin. They moved down the corridor and into the morgue where the medical examiners were working. Steve ignored the others, his eyes focusing on Rosie wondering briefly if the other woman was also a Latent or Evolved. It would make sense if she was, Rosie and Danni were best friends, almost like sisters from what Steve could tell. It would make sense if they shared something similar with each other.
Danni led the way over, stopping in front of the red head.
"Hey" She said softly, Steve watched as Rosie looked up, a look of relief coming to her face as she stood up straight and spoke.
"You're looking better since the last time I saw you" She remarked, tilting her head to the side, her eyes narrowing slightly as though she was making sure that Danni was truly okay.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that" Danni replied with a shrug before she looked down at the body that Rosie was working on, her nose wrinkling up. "Somehow he looks worse now than he did when we were out on the street" Danni commented, with a shake of her head. Steve stepped up to her side ignoring the way his stomach churned at the sight confronting them. It was truly unpleasant.
"Most likely the lighting" Rosie responded, raising her eyes for a moment and jerking her head upwards to indicate the florescent lights above them.
"Or perhaps it's something else" Danni said softly, looking around her quickly, checking to see that no one was paying them any attention before she spoke. "Steve knows Rosie, about us." She told the red head who pursed her lips for a moment before she sighed.
"I figured as much after your fainting spell earlier, you're not exactly the damsel in distress type so for you to take a dive meant that you had used your abilities and since Steve was standing with you the entire time kind of pointed out to him seeing everything." She remarked, turned her pale blue-green eyes away from Danni and looking at Steve thoughtfully for a moment. "Your father?" She asked, an undercurrent of curiosity to her voice.
"Yeah" Steve replied after a pause.
"Well best keep it quiet, the last thing we want is for the council to hightail it down here to protect the Tamacesa"
"I don't need protecting" Danni pointed out, sounding offended for a moment. "I think I've proven time after time that I can take care of myself."
"I know that" Rosie said, focusing on her friend. "And you know that but if you think that you are out here and the council hasn't sent at least two people to be your bodyguards then you are living in a cloud hon. Regardless of whether you want to be or not you're one of the two Tamacesa which make you important. You've got bodyguards, you just don't know who they are yet or maybe you do. Who knows" Rosie remarked with a shake of her head.
"Are you one of them?" Steve asked her suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he started at the red head who shot him a startled look.
"No, I'm not so much a front line fighter as I am a back line one" She told him. "What I am is one of Danni's closest friends and her healer." Rosie told him.
"You weren't at the hospital earlier" Steve pointed out, crossing his arms over his chest.
"No I wasn't" Rosie agreed. "In case it's escaped your notice McGarrett I'm an ME for the state of the Hawaii, if I went to the hospital and started treating a patient, especially a patient like Danni, then people might notice. We try to downplay any injuries Danni gets to keep the council away, drawing attention to it would make that pretty difficult."
"Okay enough" Danni said, cutting across Steve and Rosie's conversation. "I don't want to discuss this anymore, what I want to discuss is this man right here." She stated as she waved her hand towards the corpse. "Now Rosie, is this the same as the others bodies from a year ago?"
Rosie turned and looked at her, searching her face for a moment before she sighed.
"Yes and no" She admitted, the answer causing Danni's eyes to widen.
"Yes and no?" She repeated. Rosie nodded.
"The injuries and the burn marks are consistent with the previous bodies but something is different." She remarked, sounding worried.
"How can the burn marks be consistent wouldn't they…?" Steve began to say, stopping when Danni reached out and placed her hand on his bare forearm, the simple touch sending a wave of warmth over him which nearly brought him to his knees. A quick glance at her showed her looking as composed as always making him wonder whether he was the only one feeling it. He focused on her words as she spoke.
"I'll explain it to you when we're back in the car Steve" She promised him. "Rosie, continue, what is different?"
Rosie breathed out slowly, moving as close as the table allowed before she spoke, lowering her tone.
"The body is still burning Danni, that's why I haven't cut him open because somehow his insides are… well they are being cooked as though he is still in the flames."
"What? How is that possible? The elemental isn't here, his power has been withdrawn, this man should be… well he shouldn't still be burning." Danni whispered, sounding extremely worried in a way which Steve hadn't heard from his partner before, without thinking he reached out and covered the hand which was still on his arm with his own.
"That is what is happening, somehow this guys has managed to… elevate his ability beyond what most elementals are able to do which means…" Rosie's voice trailed off.
"That it's likely the people with him have done the same." Danni finished. "I need to go and fill in Meka and David about this, we should probably also head to 50 afterwards and really explain everything. They are going to have a lot of questions for me and the sooner I can answer them and get their mind refocused on what is important, the better it will be." She told Steve who nodded.
"Wait your team knows about us now as well?" Rosie demanded, sighing when Danni nodded
"It's a long story and as soon as this case is over I'll tell you everything" Danni promised the older woman.
"That will have to do" Rosie agreed begrudgingly. "I'll work on another body while keeping an eye on this one, hopefully whatever is happening inside him will stop soon so I can perform his autopsy. I'll call you as soon as I have any information on what is happening."
"I'd appreciate that" Danni said, pulling her hand out from beneath Steve before she turned to him. "Come on, we'd better go" She stated to her partner who nodded at her and followed her towards the door. She was thankful when he remained quiet allowing her to try and sort through all the thoughts running through her head.
One thing she knew for certain though was that they were now in a great deal of trouble.
The question was, what could they do about it?
Author Note
Thanks for taking the time to read. An especially big thank you if you have left me a review, favourite the story or decided to follow it.
I really appreciate it
LR xxx