Chapter 14
Parallels
Danny pulled into Pearl Harbor. His thoughts whirled in his head, and his hands shook on the wheel.
'Honestly. It's like you're going to a first date or something, Danno. Relax. Shouldn't you be happy?'
Steve's voice echoed through his head.
'I hate you. I hate you so much. Why would you do this?' Danny was glaring at nothing, the voice of his best friend ringing in his head.
'Nah, you love me. Who else would make me crap eggs on weekends sometimes?' Steve's voice sounded amused.
'Shut up. I don't want to look like an idiot here, thank you very much—'
'—more than usual?' Steve cut in.
'Shut up. Stop talking. You're in my imagination.' Steve laughed, but didn't say anything else. Hallucination, Danny told himself.
He pushed the door open and stood, letting the wind caress his skin and tease his hair. A floral scent filled the air, and heat immediately assaulted him. The sun beat down relentlessly on his forearms, and the smell of salt water intermingled with the flower's scent.
When he opened the door to the Navy Base, cool air conditioning wreathed around him. Kono and Chin followed him in. They walked up to where an officer was waiting for them. He wordlessly checked their ID's before leading them through a maze of hallways. Getting to increasing heavier guarded doors and heavier armed guards, Danny, Kono and Chin grew increasing nervous.
Finally leading them to a reinforced door, the officer opened the door and stood aside to let the three Five-0 members in. They were greeted by a decorated officer.
"I'm Commander Matrile. We have decided to give you some details about the location of Lieutenant Commander McGarrett." The three couldn't speak. Kono's mouth went dry, and she looked up at one of the large screens in the darkened room.
"Approximately 46 hours ago, there was a large explosion at a confidential location. The video," he motioned to another figure in the room. Dark trees filled the screen, and a large grey building was nestled in between them. A few seconds passed before red and orange filled the center part of the screen. More explosions rocked the dark forest, as wide eyes watched.
"After this explosion, we picked up two heat signatures moving away from the blast. We believe it is our missing SEALs."
"I thought three were still out there," Chin leaned forward a little.
"There was. We're assuming that one has died. I'm sorry, we can't confirm who."
A ridiculous hope filled Kono's chest. "He could be alive?" She whispered. Chin's arm sneaked around her shoulders.
"He could be. We've sent a retrieval team. They should be there soon. He should be home soon."
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Akamu poured over the reports. He felt there was something he was missing, but he couldn't place his finger on it. Something was bothering him about the case, something he knew was important.
Emily slipped into the room.
"Hey, any progress?"
"No. This sounds familiar, but I can't remember from what."
"Had a family reunion recently?" Emily teased. Akamu stared at her. "AP? Hey, what's wrong?" AP's mouth dropped open.
"-family reunion."
"Danny must be excited to see his family."
"Yah, and they're staying at the Hilton. So good food, definitely," Chin's teasing voice echoed through Akamu's brain.
"Danny. His family flew in from the mainland for a family reunion. At the Hilton." AP's mouth was dry, imagining the blonde, spirited detective.
Emily's brown eyes widened.
"We have to warn him."
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Danny smiled at his family. They finally got together for dinner at the Hilton, and it was a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere. They shared stories and news, catching up on their separate lives. Danny felt himself unwind from the stressful mindset he had been in for the last months. Worry still plagued him, but with his family, he felt freer and more open.
Paul was laughing at something Casey had said, and Lindsay was scolding her sister for the rude comment.
Danny's eyes crinkled, and the familiar sounds of clinking utensils and friendly voices soothed him.
His phone buzzed. It was Akamu, calling him. Danny ignored the call, and looked back to his family.
Casey's warm blue eyes connected with him, and Danny laughed.
"I agree with Lindsay and Dad. It was hilarious, but when did you become so rude?" Melissa asked.
Danny waved his hand dismissively. "It was funny! She's being a true William's!" The family raised their eyes in disbelief.
"You think you're a true William's," Melissa redirected.
"Of course!"
"You're not funny!" The family chorused together. Danny sputtered indignantly and opened his mouth to defend himself.
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Emily pushed open the door of the Hilton.
"What makes you think he'll strike tonight?" She asked AP, who was jogging beside her.
"Not that many family reunion dinners at the Hilton," he said, as if it should have been obvious. Emily rolled her eyes.
"Oh, of course."
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Laughter.
Smells of food, and the warmth of Hawaii made the environment beautiful and ideal for a reunion. Iokapa Kai allowed a small smile to touch his lips.
The blonde detective was vigorously defending himself to his family. Soon, none of them would be smiling.
Iokapa lifted his gun. It was good to try something new. He aimed, and he fired.
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A gunshot disrupted the restaurant. Screams filled the air.
Chaos exploded around Melissa, who felt pain explode in her chest. She glanced down. Red was spreading over her collarbone. She looked up at the horrified face of her mother, father, and siblings. She slumped backwards, trying to breath.
She couldn't breathe.
She couldn't move.
She was dying.
Her last conscious thought as another shot rippled through the air, and someone else in her family shuddered at the contact of the bullet, was that she didn't want to die.
Please God, don't let me die.
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Emily ran faster. There was no time to lose. Someone could already be dead. AP suddenly stopped and raised his weapon. A man in black started at the sound of AP's voice.
"Freeze, Five-0!" He yelled.
The man turned, aiming his gun at the detective. He fired. AP fired, and two bodies hit the floor.
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Thwap. Thwap. Thwap. The steady chop of helicopter blades filled the air. Sarah Leilano tensed. This helicopter was bringing in SEALs injured in the Philippines. That was all she knew, but she was aware of the situation. Critical condition. Malnourishment, torture, dehydration, burns, and other wounds composed of the impressive list of injuries the SEALs had started. She watched as three limp bodies were removed, one respectfully covered by a dark blanket. The first victim revealed a man with a wide face, and greying hair, although there was blonde strands still present. He was quickly loaded on a stretcher and taken away. The second, a tall man with dark hair, eyes blissfully closed, was set gently on the stretcher, and moved away from the slowing blades of the copter. The third was gently rested on a stretcher as well, but it was too late for this soldier to ever be healed.
Sarah sighed and followed the ambulances, running a mental list of treatments and surgeries that would be needed to be performed. Her chocolate eyes spotted a group of family watching the tarmac as well, three people huddled in silent agony, holding each other as they mourned for the dead SEAL.
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Chin's heart was hammering in his chest, and his breath was coming in short pants. The helicopter touched down, and the door slid open. Licking his lips, Chin anxiously awaited as the first man, not Steve, not anyone he knew, was loaded onto the ambulance. One of the recovered SEALs next to him from the team whispered "Jolev. He's alive, good." The atmosphere was tense, and the people waiting squeezed hands and whispered prayers that it would be their loved one to be unloaded next, their relation to be the other one saved.
Chin's world slowed as a familiar figure was loaded onto a stretched. Bruises and blood marred the handsome features, and a blanket covered the rest of his body.
He was aware of a woman crying, and man desperately whispering in disbelief, and the sighs of sadness from the SEAL team. He was aware of Kono's sob's relief and sadness mixed together, her legs failing her, and her knees colliding with the floor.
Chin was aware of these things, but his body and mind ignored them. Steve. He was alive. He was safe.
His hand reached up, stretching toward the prone figure of one of his closest friends.
Steve.
TBC
Thanks to the best beta reader, Shakespeare's Lemonade. This story would be 10x worse without your feedback!
Always love reviews, constructive criticism is welcome, and thanks for the kind words! :)