Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii 5-0. I wish I did but I don't see the rights coming up for sale anytime soon.

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Chapter 14

The arrival of the truck bearing his cocaine only managed to improve Santos Arantes' mood a few degrees. The phone call to 5-0 headquarters had not produced the results he had expected. Before arriving in Hawaii, Arantes had spent time studying his enemies and from what he learned, he had believed that the 5-0 team would do anything for each other. The reports he had been able to access, both official and unofficial from when McGarrett had been arrested for the former Governor's murder had shown him a team that would fight to free their leader. Originally he had hoped that his cousins could settle their differences with McGarrett inside Halawa but they had not been able to make contact with the man and then a week later, the Commander had managed to escape. Arantes had been surprised when shortly thereafter the head of 5-0 had been cleared of all charges and the task force was once again in place. Having 5-0 once again in business was going to make establishing his drug trade difficult.

That development had forced Arantes to begin to plan a new strategy for taking down 5-0. He would not tolerate letting this group continue after they had declared war on his family. Discovering that Nicholas Downing was plotting a kidnapping and 5-0 was involved in the target's protection had offered him the perfect way to break up the task force and give him the lever he needed to free his cousins. Everything that the 5-0 team members had done to save their leader from murder charges made Arantes believe they would once again do what was necessary to ransom him. The fact that they had not immediately followed his demands had driven him to the point of anger and he wanted to strike out at them. Perhaps they questioned his declaration that he would free McGarrett once Bernardo and Javier were released from prison, but he had gambled that they would not take the chance of being wrong. The fact that they were not cooperating sent his temper flaring higher.

Keeping control of his anger had always been an issue for Santos. Once his rage had spiked, he usually needed some type of physical release to calm himself. Unfortunately there had been no time to set up any type of gym or other exercise area in this hidden retreat. With his men busy dividing the cocaine up into smaller shipments to give to the dealers, he was left with no sparring partner to work off his stress. A nasty smile spread over his features as he realized that he did have one person who he could vent his anger on. Grabbing the key to the concrete building he headed out to confront the source of all this pent up anger. Before leaving the house he snapped a holstered gun to his belt.

The shadows were stretching longer as the sun sank ever lower in the western sky as Arantes crossed the yard to the low structure near the edge of the property. Inside the building, Steve could hear the footsteps as a person approached his prison. Moving to the slit in the wall, he could see Arantes coming towards him and his eyes lit up when he could see that the man was alone. Opening the small knife to the larger of the two blades, Steve took note that there was a gun on Arantes' belt. He considered the odds and found that the low ceiling in this building and the element of surprise would play in Steve's favor. But he needed to make sure he struck quickly and not give the drug lord the chance to pull his weapon, and then he would stand a fighting chance.

Pressing against the wall behind the door, Steve waited for Arantes to unlock it. Santos paused outside, slowly slid the key into the lock and turned it. He was still feeling the anger coursing through his veins as he pushed the door open but he also remembered that McGarrett had put up a fight the last time they entered this room. There was no possible way he would fall victim to the same attack with the plastic bucket. Easing the door open slowly, Arantes slid to the side away from the door, his eyes searching the dim interior for the Commander while his hand found the butt of his handgun. He would not let himself be within the reach of the chains on his prisoner.

When Steve calculated that Arantes was far enough into the room, he launched into action, pushing the door into his enemy. In spite of being prepared, Arantes was still caught off guard as the door swung towards him. McGarrett was not supposed to able to reach the door….. he should not be free. Arantes sidestepped the door and faced his attacker as Steve charged him with the small knife in his hand. Steve managed to cut Arantes' cheek with the small blade before the drug dealer bent low and twisted away, attempting to draw his gun. Steve grabbed for his opponent's wrist to deflect the aim of the gun and managed to knock it from Arantes' grasp. The knife also fell as it took two hands to fight off the Colombian.

Steve had a height advantage over the shorter man but in the low structure that was negated and Arantes was very fit and strong. Both men lost their footing and fell to the ground, wrestling for the upper hand. The struggle continued and even though Steve was more skilled in hand to hand combat, Arantes was no stranger to fighting and the beating that Steve had taken earlier along with his weakened state began to hamper the 5-0 leader. Arantes shoved McGarrett onto his back and straddled him, one forearm to Steve's throat while he reached for his fallen gun.

*H5-0*

The parade of vehicles pulled to the side of the rutted road silently. There were no flashing lights or sirens to announce their arrival on this desolate road on the north end of the island. The occupants of the vehicles exited them and began to don protective vests and other gear. Grabbing their weapons, the group assembled around Danny Williams to get their instructions. Chin, Kono and Joe stood behind him as he addressed the ten HPD officers who completed the strike force.

"All right, this is how this is going down," Danny announced. "Santos Arantes bought the house at the end of this road." He indicated the narrow dirt road that branched off of the road they were parked on. "We know there is a house and a concrete building on the property. We believe that Arantes is holding Steve McGarrett prisoner in the block building. We are aware that there were two other men with this character when he took Steve but that does not mean that there aren't others with them. Proceed with caution. Once we are in position, I will give you the word to move in. No one makes a move until I call it, got that?" Every head nodded at his instructions.

"Chin, you and Kono take five men and head down this road a ways before heading through the underbrush to the house. We want to come at them from two angles like we discussed. Joe and I will take the others up this road and block off the exit." He looked at the serious faces in front of him. "These guys are Colombian drug cartel members, they are dangerous and they will shoot first so protect yourselves. Joe and I will concentrate on freeing McGarrett, the rest of you take the suspects at the house. Be smart and be sharp."

"Gottcha Danny," Chin responded. "Come on Kono, let's move." He headed down the road to the area that they had determined earlier would lead them in to the house. Kono and the other five officers followed him.

Danny and Joe watched them move out and then took their group up the road towards the house. Danny let Joe take the lead, knowing that the man had more experience in jungle work. He also knew that Steve's mentor could check to make sure that they were not tripping any alarms or booby traps that might have been set to protect the place.

As they walked cautiously in the gloom of the heavy tree cover, Danny gripped his weapon tighter and felt the tension settle in his shoulders. His mind kept replaying the vision of the photo that Arantes had forwarded to them and his stomach tightened at how Steve had appeared. The bloodied face of his partner made him worry that they might be too late. If that was the case, Danny had every intention of making Arantes pay for what he had done.

Joe came to a halt a few feet ahead of him and motioned everyone to move off the drive and into the heavier brush on the side. Everyone did as instructed as he walked back to join them, all of them able to see that the tree cover was becoming lighter and there was open space ahead.

"The house is just ahead," Joe said in a low voice as Danny halted beside him. "I could see three vehicles parked by the house. That could mean that we're facing at least twelve people. Downing informed us that Arantes had the two guys with him and if they could have brought in seven in the van and maybe two in the truck. Of course there could be more, so be alert."

"Got it," Danny nodded. He looked at the others. "We're going in now before we lose all the light." He tapped the communication link in his ear. "Chin, Kono….is your team in place?"

"Almost Danny," Chin replied sounding winded. "We had some rough terrain to move through." There was a pause for several seconds as Danny could hear brush snapping. Then Chin spoke again. "Okay, we are in position at the edge of the property. We can see the house."

"Good," Danny answered. "We are ready to move in. Joe thinks that we may be facing at least twelve suspects, there are three vehicles we can see from our position."

He could see that Joe had the team spread out to be able to move in from several points. He nodded in satisfaction and then turned to focus on the concrete building off to his right.

"We are ready too," Chin confirmed as he received a nod from Kono. Their team was also spread out, ready to move in from several angles.

"Then let's go," Danny ordered quietly. "Let's go get Steve."

The words were barely out of his mouth when the sound of a gunshot rang out from inside the block building.

End Chapter.

I know….I know another cliff hanger. I am addicted to them, what can I say? Please help me out and review, I may need the inspiration since I have a fight to write. Thank you so much for reading.