My apologies to all who have been waiting patiently for this update; the next one won't take as long, I promise!

"Three things cannot be long hidden:

the sun, the moon, and the truth."

- Buddha -

21. THE TRUTH WILL OUT

"That stubborn idiot!" Doris stares at the phone Joe has just put down on the table, then hangs her head as she takes in a deep breath, absentmindedly scratching a spot just below the cast on her wrist. She feels Joe's hands on her shoulders, rubbing and kneading them, trying to ease the tension which threatens to seize up the muscles there. He doesn't speak. "Why won't he let you pick him up from the hospital, Joe?"

The long hours initially spent at the hospital, then the frequent visits the following days, all so they can spend as much time as possible with Steve and simultaneously keep a close watch on Matt's healing process, have taken it out of her; Doris is completely and utterly exhausted.

Exhausted from anxiety, and from the constant tension she feels whenever she's near Danny Williams, not knowing whether he'll stick to his word and not spill the beans to either Steve or Matt. This latest set-back, Matt's polite but stubborn refusal to have Joe take him home now he's being discharged, makes her want to scream in frustration.

Joe continues to rub her shoulders, remaining quiet for a little longer before he answers. "I don't know, Doris." He sighs. "Matt's had it pretty rough these past weeks; Gabriel's death, getting shot, the accident-"

"Yes, Joe. I'm aware of all those things." Doris' cynical words stop Joe's hands, and she leans back into him, immediately sorry. "God, this whole situation is driving me crazy! I thought picking up Matt from the hospital would be the right moment to explain things to him. But now ..."

The hands on her shoulders turn her around, force her to face Joe. His blue eyes hold a hint of amusement, and as she takes in his features she can clearly see the family resemblance with her eldest child; their child. It's funny how different people notice different things, and whereas Joe keeps telling her Matt is the spitting image of her father, Doris can see their son in the shape of Joe's forehead, the quirky lift of his eyebrows.

"Honey, let's just face it: this thing is going to run its own course. You can try and steer it in a preferred direction, but keep in mind that you lost control of the situation the moment Danny started getting suspicious." Joe smiles at her scowl, knowing how much she hates not having control. "Just go with the flow, Doris."

That, however, is something she's never been very good at.

Matt sits on the edge of the hospital bed, running a hand over several days worth of stubble. They had kept him longer than he thought necessary, but the doctor wanted to be absolutely sure he didn't suffer from any after effects after having been sedated. Electronic patient records or not, the combined effect of PTSD and sedatives obviously was still largely undiscovered territory.

When Matt had finally regained consciousness to find Joe sitting next to him, he'd been relieved. The softly spoken words had served to ease him out of the nightmare he'd been having, rather than coming out fighting. Instead of the inbuilt immediate alertness he usually felt upon waking, he'd been given the luxury of being relaxed, off-guard; slowly coming to his senses.

Somehow, the older man made him feel protected, made him feel safe. A concept which had become virtually alien to him these past decades; it had always been Matt who ensured people were safe, not the other way around. Matt taking care of everything after his parents died, looking after Jimmy; Matt teaching and guiding his younger partner Gabriel, trying to keep him safe during dangerous cases, monitoring him when he went undercover. Now Joe was looking out for Matt, and that was new territory; he hadn't really experienced anything like it since he had left the Det.

Joe had talked to him, asked him what he remembered about the accident. It wasn't much. Dazed by the events of the day and driven by his urge to be alone, he had hurried out of HQ ahead of the others, then driven home slower than usual, stopping off at the gas station at Hunakai Street to pick up some easy to prepare dinner.

After that, things were fuzzy.

When Joe had carefully started to fill in the blanks, telling him the other driver was in fact Steve, he was shocked to the core. And when Joe informed him about the severity of Steve´s injuries, he was horrified. He immediately had tried jumping out of bed, propelled by the urge to go check on him. Joe's strong hand against his chest, sending shards of pain through his broken ribs, had prevented him from doing so.

"Stay, Matt. That's an order!" The stern voice had brooked no contradiction. "It's not like you came out of this unscathed. And he's still unconscious." He'd fallen back against the pillow, closed his eyes while running a hand over his face. Joe'd been silent for a moment, then huffed out a laugh. When Matt opened his eyes, shooting the older man a surprised look, he saw him shaking his head.

"You and Steve. So much alike, it's ridiculous." Joe had sighed, opened his mouth as if to say more, then closed his lips again. After a moment, he'd continued. "The accident wasn't your fault, Matt, so don't go taking the blame for it." When the younger man started to protest, he had cut him off. "Look, technically it was Steve's fault; I'm sure his insurance company won't be pleased with him. But both of you were exhausted after what happened today, so in reality, neither one of you is really to blame."

Matt had let it sink in, nodded. His head had been throbbing, pounding a steady beat to the rhythm of his heart. Sighing, he'd felt his eyes flutter shut, heard Joe's voice. "Get some sleep, son. You need it. Things will be clearer in the morning." A large hand had been placed on his head, and for one dizzying, stupefying moment Matt had actually turned his head into the comforting touch just as he was drifting off. Had sought the comfort there like he was a small child.

So why has he just turned down Joe's offer to drive him home ...

The only explanation he can think of is the internal battle which is being waged inside of him; despite the initial and instinctive trust he has felt towards Joe, there's also the knowledge that the man has been scheming together with Doris; is her partner.

And if there ever was a person he doesn't trust, it's Doris. The information Steve has given him, coupled with the facts he already knew or had found out, come to the sum total of being extremely wary of the woman. Which means, unfortunately, that he has to be wary of Joe as well.

Sighing, he starts going over his other options to get back to the house on Papai Street. Or anywhere else, for that matter.

Anywhere but the hospital.

"So what's the latest news on our fearless leader's condition? Oh, and Matt's, of course." Lou looks over his shoulder while pouring himself a large mug of coffee. Chin looks up from the collection of files he's about to send over to the LAPD, but it's Kono who answers.

"Steve's doing better, although he still sleeps a lot. Man was out like a light when we went over to the hospital last night."

Nodding, Lou walks over to the conference table. "Yeah, he could barely keep his eyes open when I was there. Guess sleep is the best thing he can do right now, although I wonder how he's able to, with Doris and Joe hanging around him all the time. I guess that's why Danny isn't stuck to Steve's side like he usually is when the guy's in hospital."

Kono glances at Chin, then quickly looks down at the report which the HPD has filed with regard to the HQ break-in. She doesn't know whether either Danny or Chin have mentioned their suspicions about Doris and Matt to Lou, and she's not about to wake a sleeping dog. Lou, however, is pretty astute.

"OK, what's with that look, Kono? And what's this atmosphere of secrecy that's been hanging around here the last few days?" Lou looks from Kono to Chin and back again. "I know there's something going on, even Danny is more nervous than usual. And I also know it doesn't have to do with Steve being in hospital, so please don't try and feed me that as an excuse!"

Chin stares at Lou. One of the things that empowers their team, forms it into a close-knit entity is the fact that they share all their troubles, are able to unload their problems on their team mates' shoulders. This particular situation, however, does not just involve one of their team mates. "It's a delicate situation, Lou, and it involves Steve and Matt."

Lou frowns, then suddenly his eyes grow bigger. "Hang on a second ... are you implying ... I mean, are you saying that Steve ... and Matt ..."

Chin's eyebrows nearly go up to his hairline, and he shakes his head. "No, no! That's not what I'm implying. At all!"

Kono sniggers, looking from Chin to Lou and back again. "My money would be on Steve and Danny, actually." Both men turn towards her, Chin staring daggers at his cousin. Kono's grin becomes even wider. "Oh come on, cuz ... the way they're always near each other ... I mean, I for one wouldn't be surprised."

"Oh-kay! This is a conversation that can rapidly deteriorate into something, well ... never mind." Lou shakes his head, glances at a still sniggering Kono, then looks at Chin who is trying to maintain his composure. "So, if that's not the issue here, what is?"

Chin sighs. "Well, it also has to do with Doris." He looks up at Lou. "I need you to promise that this will be kept between us, the team. Not one word to anybody else, OK?" Lou gives him a funny look. "I'm serious, Lou. This ... thing will probably cause a big shit storm, and even though I do think it's fair if you're warned beforehand, it is not up to any of us to blow it wide open."

Running a hand over his head, Lou looks down, then back at Chin. "Well, OK. But you better spill the beans now, because I'd really like to know what could be so important." Chin looks at Kono, who nods, then back at Lou.

"We, meaning Danny, Kono and I, think that Matt may be Doris' son." Chin watches as an incredulous look appears on Lou's face, his mouth going slack with surprise. "Yeah, that's basically how we felt when we put the puzzle pieces together."

Lou remains quiet for several minutes, obviously going over things in his mind. When he does speak, he does so slowly, as if to carefully weigh each word before it leaves mouth. "Are you telling me that Matt may be Steve's brother?! And that Matt - or Steve for that matter - is unaware of that fact?" Chin and Kono nod almost simultaneously, and Lou looks down, shaking his head.

"Well," Lou says, straightening up, "I knew that woman loved secrets, but this one really tops everything else. If you guys are right, that is." He shakes his head again, still finding it difficult to take things in. "If this is true, then I think you're correct in assuming that there will be a shit storm."

"Oh, you better believe there will be!" a voice says behind them.

When he opens his eyes, he finds himself alone in the room. The chairs next to the bed are empty, and he breathes a small sigh of relief; the constant presence of Doris and Joe, although comforting, is also a drain on what little energy he has. He also hates the fact that he keeps drifting in and out during their conversations, unable to stay awake for periods lasting longer than ten minutes.

The doctor has explained the extent of his injuries, and he realizes that all in all he's been very lucky; the heavy chassis of the Mercury has shielded him from far worse. His fractured cheekbone, the result of slamming into the side-view mirror at the moment of impact, has been repaired through an incision in his mouth, and his broken elbow - "You're very lucky to have strong muscles, so the fracture is relatively simple" is what the doctor told him - has been put in a fiberglass splint.

His dislocated and fractured ribs have all been taken care of, and all he needs now is time to heal. The severe concussion resulting from the crash helps him do that; it's the injury which causes him to float back and forth between semi-wakefulness and nearly-unconscious sleep. Right now he still prefers the latter, as the combination of injuries - despite the pain relief he allows for now - is beyond uncomfortable. Just as his eyes flutter shut again, the door opens and Danny's face peers around the corner.

"Hey, look at you, you're awake for a change." Danny smiles, hiding the discomfort he still feels every time he sees Steve's badly bruised face. "And alone as well. Your two guard dogs off to harass somebody else, are they?"

A little frown appears on Steve's face. "Guess so ..." Talking still isn't a favorite of his, the incision in his mouth having caused some swelling. He also has a sore tongue and lips, something which nobody has explained to him yet. He thinks he may have bitten them during the accident, but he can't be sure. "Stay." Steve lifts a hand to indicate a chair next to the bed. "M'wake."

Danny grins. "Awake? He's awake, the man says, yet I can barely see those please-move-so-I-can-shoot-you eyes." Taking the chair, he pauses before sitting down. "Sure you up for this? I can come back later, take my chances on you not being asleep then."

The wry grin Steve tries to put on his face fails miserably, instead turning into a grimace of pain. He's happy with Danny's company though, as he doesn't see him all that often whenever he is awake. "Busy?" Lifting an eyebrow, he tries to convey the meaning without having to resort to too many, painful words. Danny, as usual, understands, but also evades the real question.

"Am I busy? Our boss and the short tempered detective from LA have decided to take time off from work, and you ask whether I'm busy. No, not in the slightest. All of criminal Hawaii has been gracious enough to suspend any activity until you're back on the job." Danny crosses his arms in mock indignation, secretly pleased to see the ghost of a smile appear on Steve's face.

"Not what ... I meant."

Sighing, Danny uncrosses his arms, then puts them around his knee, slung across his other leg. "Look, your mother, excuse me, Doris," he corrects himself at the small frown on Steve's face, "Doris has decided that she wants to spend some extra time with you, and I just don't want to run interference, OK?"

What Danny really likes to tell Steve is that his bitch of a scheming mother gives him the heebie-jeebies with her death stares and grim lipped mouth whenever she sees him, and he does his damndest to evade her at all cost. However, Danny doesn't think Steve will appreciate him saying so, although he secretly thinks his friend might actually understand his sentiments.

"Never stopped you." Steve stares at him from between half-closed eyes, obviously on the brink of falling asleep again and fighting to stay awake.

"Yeah, well, this time it's different, McGarrett." Danny manages to stop himself before he rushes into an explanation why this time, indeed, is different from all the other occasions where Steve managed to have grievous bodily harm inflicted upon himself. "Just ... just let's leave it at that, shall we? You'll get sick of my pretty face soon enough once you're out of the hospital again."

Another little smile ghosts around Steve's lips, and Danny watches as his eyes fall shut again. He quietly gets up from the chair, then places a hand on his friend's arm. "I'll be back in a little while, OK buddy? You get some of that much needed sleep you crave right now." A soft mumble is all he gets as an answer, and smiling he turns to leave, only to have the 'shit!' scared out of him.

"For fuck's sake, Sterling! Didn't your mother ever teach you not to sneak up on people?!" Danny hisses the words at the man standing quietly in the doorway. Matt, however, is staring straight past him at Steve, a strange look on his face. A look which fills Danny with a restless sense of foreboding. And rightly so, it seems, as Matt's next words take Danny's breath away.

"To answer your question, no, apparently she hasn't."

Danny can feel the blood rush to his head as he realizes Matt knows, just knows what Danny has been so desperately trying to keep secret. He motions to the other man, almost grabbing his arm but deciding to move Matt along with words instead. "Come on, let's continue this conversation somewhere else, OK?" Danny throws one look back at Steve, deeply asleep again, then closes the door.

Matt remains silent, following Danny back into the hallway. For once, Danny is lost for words, doesn't really know how to start what is sure to be an awkward conversation. A quick glance tells him Matt is leaning against the wall, staring into empty space. Danny can only imagine what must be going through his mind right now.

"OK, I've always been taught that a conversation always runs smoother if both parties use words to, you know, communicate their feelings or thoughts to each other. What you're doing now, you know, this silent thing ... it's not working." Matt looks at Danny, who suddenly wishes he could just simply disappear, hide from the anguished look in the other man's eyes.

"She's been lying, Danny. Lying about a whole lot of things, it seems."

Not even needing to ask who Matt is referring to, Danny let's out a small, sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, well, that seems to be her modus operandus. It takes some getting used to, I'll admit, but ..."

"No, Danny, nobody should have to get used to this. For crying out loud, I have to hear from other people that my whole life has been one fucking lie! Tell me, how do you get used to that ?" Matt slumps against the wall, head bowed. He's a picture of utter dejection, obviously totally blown away by the whole concept of Doris having withheld the fact that she is, in fact, not just Steve's mother but Matt's as well.

Danny sighs, daring to place a hand on the bigger man's arm. "Hey, how about we go somewhere quiet where we can have some coffee, or no, coffee is not going to cut this; where we can have a beer, hell, a lot of beer, and see if we can get this thing sorted out."

Matt nods. Beer sounds really good to him right now; anything with an alcohol content for that matter. Anything that will numb the deep, searing and gut-wrenching pain he has been feeling since he walked into HQ, and overheard Chin talking to Lou. He'll have some beer, talk to Danny, maybe have some beer, and then ...

Then he's going to kill that lying, scheming bitch of a mother of his!