Cujo II - Chapter 21
Finally! Here's another. Hope you like it. Please let me know what you think. There are two more chapters left to go, they're almost complete. Thank you all for your reviews, alerts and favorites. Posting this in a hurry before I have to give back the computer. My apologies for any glaring errors. You guys rock!
Disclaimer: If wishes were horses . . .
*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0* Hawaii 5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*
Not Quite Kumbaya
Getting Detective McGarrett through customs wasn't as difficult as she'd expected. Apparently, someone from the governor's office had called ahead and smoothed the way. Steve really did 'know people'. In Jersey, that phrase could mean something with an entirely different result than getting a cat home.
As an animal subject to the rules and regulations of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, there would have been no chance in hell to have gotten him past the state's watchful inspectors but as a full fledged Five-0 detective with means and immunity, it was nearly a breeze.
Normally, Cujo would have gone directly from the plane to the quarantine facility. After a brief, only slightly Jersified, discussion with the airport's agriculture inspector, and the presentation of Detective C.D. McGarrett's official I.D., (not to mention the tall man with the scary tattoos and even scarier stare standing on the other side of the glass partition watching the exchange), the still drowsy and newly minted officer of the law was on his way home at last.
Angie smiled broadly at her two brothers. Danny, as usual, looked hale and healthy. Steve, once again tan and at least a little more filled out, had no trouble looking menacing for the inspector. Danny gave Angela a welcoming hug. Steve was right behind him as she, with a sigh of relief, handed the carrier to the commander and returned her blonde brother's embrace of welcome.
"Angie! Aloha and mahalo!" said Steve delightedly as he peered into the carrier at his prodigal friend. "Thanks so much for the favor."
"Favor!" she laughed, "You've no idea how much I've wanted to get out of Newark . . . at least for a few days. Mom, as usual, was driving me nuts and since the weather's been a bitch - being cooped up all day - well, you've no idea."
"Yeah, I think he does." said her brother drily. "SuperSEAL couldn't handle Jersey weather. He's still talking about it."
"Danny, I froze my ass off for nearly three weeks! If it wasn't for the fever, you'd have had to ship me home like an icicle in a refrigerated box."
"Almost had to do that anyway, Babe." reminded the blonde man, almost shivering, (not from remembrance of Newark's weather.)
"Well, we're all here now." said Angela to derail the sudden serious turn of the conversation, "even the piranha!"
"Did he give you any trouble?" asked Steve hoping to hear a negative answer and guiding them toward baggage claim while carefully holding the 'official' Five-0 carrier as though it had a mercury switch that would detonate if jostled.
"Nah, not much. Not a peep from him until the meds wore off about halfway across. He started howling and they threatened to throw us off the plane while we were still over the water." she laughed
"What'd you have to do? Obviously, whatever it was got the little shithead here." asked Danny, adding, "He is alive right?" as he realized they hadn't heard a sound from the animal in the transport container.
"Yeah, don't worry, he's still wasted from that last pill. Steve was right, he hasn't caught on yet that that little lump in the middle of a piece of meat is gonna send him to lala land."
"Thank God" breathed her blonde brother.
"Copy that! I thought we were gonna have to swim the rest of the way here. Someone was trying to organize a petition to present to the pilot." she smiled.
"Sorry about that, Angie. I know he can be a little difficult." said the tall man.
"Oh, please, Steven! You look in the dictionary under the word 'shithead' and there's a picture of your friggin' wolverine! The whole world knows how difficult he can be." snorted his partner.
That comment only garnered an eye roll as they reached the baggage carousel that served Angela's flight; the shute already spewing Samsonite onto the conveyor.
"No worries Steve. The flight attendant and I had opportunity for quite a few conversations. After she figured out I wasn't transporting a weapon of mass destruction, she gave me her number." chirped Angela, "I think I have a date next Wednesday!" she winked to her brothers before making a quick grab for her luggage and yanking it from the conveyer while waiving off the men's offers of assistance.
"That's great, Ange." laughed Danny, it's about time his gorgeous sister gets back into the game.
"Boy, you don't waste any time." said Steve admiringly.
"Yeah, but don't be so sure about not transporting a WMD." laughed Danny. "You ever see the movie 'Snakes on a Plane'?
"Hey, you're dissing a fellow officer!" reminded his partner. "Isn't there supposed to be some sort of code of solidarity for the boys and girls in blue?"
"Yeah, for actual human beings, Steven! Not deranged wolverines given the title of detective and flown first class to Honolulu!" said the blonde man, hands beginning their usual hyperkinetic movements.
"You jealous Danno? You know, I could have made him outrank you. I just thought it would hurt your feelings since your so sensitive and you seem to have so many of them." said Steve with mock seriousness.
Angela laughed as the two animatedly traded barbs while they made their way toward short term parking. They had no idea how they sounded to those around them when they bickered. It wasn't that hard to come to the wrong conclusion about their relationship thought the amused woman. It felt good to be back with her brothers, (and to finally get rid of that friggin' cat).
...
They sat around the banked fire enjoying each other's company. Finally, they were all together again; one big somewhat dysfunctional but happy family; the only discordant note being the inclusion of Tim Grayson in the group. Kono still seemed oblivious to her ohana's reservations about her boyfriend.
Cujo watched Grayson carefully, not taking his eyes off the man for quite some time. They'd taken turns holding the little cat. He'd started off in Steve's arms, then Kono's, then Malia's. Currently, he seemed very comfy in Chin's lap but never shifted his intense gaze from Grayson.
There seemed neither rhyme nor reason for his choices of laps. Sometimes, if Danny even so much as looked at him, he'd hiss. Same for Grayson. Danny was actually miffed the cat would lump him in with the scumbag.
How did I even get to the point in my life where I was worried about what a friggin' cat thought of me? frowned Danny, disgusted with himself.
Chin and Kono had talked Steve into pit roasted pig for the celebration, saying it was 'traditional' for a New Year's luau. This was Five-0's official get-together. New Year's Eve actually wasn't until tomorrow but most of them had been invited, (ordered), to appear at the Governor's Annual New Year's Eve Ball. Apparently, Five-0 was going to be put on display for the citizens of Hawaii to gawk at. For that reason, no one was looking forward to it.
The wooden beach chairs were arranged around the fire crackling with a bright orange glow as the sun set and the last bands of color left the sky. The stars had emerged for their travel across the heavens and it was a beautiful evening.
"Yeah, Steve, kalua roast pork is a traditional celebration meal." seriously intoned Chin, already knowing Steve probably wouldn't eat it in any case; no matter how traditional it was.
"So is fish" countered their boss. In his peripatetic life, he'd eaten things far less appetizing to him than roast pig but the medication he was still taking made him a pretty finicky eater of late – even more so than usual.
Slowly, he was regaining some of the weight he'd lost though not quickly enough for his ohana - Danny in particular. The blonde was making up for any real or imagined 'short' remarks that had ever been directed toward him by his partner.
Knowing Danny was always hyper-vigilant about slights or perceived slights regarding being vertically challenged, Steve usually avoided any mention of his partner's height. It wasn't usually something he even thought about as Danny was such a 'big' presence by dint of personality alone.
"It's windy out, eat a sandwich before you sail off like a kite!" or "You can't wear yellow, it makes you look like a pencil." the detective might say. Steve just laughed. He knew it was temporary. He'd let Danny have his fun for now. He can't say it didn't bother him at least a little though. He hadn't been this underweight in years. He'd been a pretty skinny kid and had heard enough remarks like that when he was growing up.
"Come on Boss. Just try it, it's really good." coaxed Kono, holding up a forkful of roasted pork before him. His stomach was already doing flip-flops as he declined the morsel.
"No thanks, Kono but I'm sure it's wonderful." he said as he held his hands up in an 'enough' gesture.
The Hawaiian girl was persistent, "You've got to eat something. Despite what you guys seem to think, man cannot survive on beer alone."
It was getting on his nerves that someone was always trying to get him to eat more than he wanted or could handle but he smiled back at his well-intentioned friend, "According to Danny, just throw in a pizza and yeah, we're good for life. Besides I've already eaten. I had some fish and some salad." he defended.
"That's diet food for most normal humans!" exclaimed Danny, stressing the word 'normal' as he strode up to his teamates, his daughter clinging to his back like her Danno's pet name for her – monkey.
"Danno, that stuff is good for you!" giggled Grace.
"See, now look what you've done. You've turned my own daughter, my own flesh and blood, into one of you! Next thing I know, she'll be scarfing down pineapple tofu and bean sprouts instead of healthy things like pizza and ribs. You know, things that put hair on your chest!"
"Danno! I'm a girl! I don't want hair on my chest!" she squealed.
"Yeah, Danno. When she gets older, Gracie won't look that great in her bikini if she has a furry chest." laughed Steve.
"No one should even be looking at my baby's chest!" barked Danny, only half in jest as he swung his daughter off his back and onto the sand. "And, she's never going to wear bikinis . . . well, maybe when she gets to be forty or so."
"But Aunt Kono wears them!" yelped Gracie.
"Yeah, Aunt Kono looks good in them Danno." smirked Steve to his partner.
"Hey, damn . . . err darn it! You're not supposed to notice those things about your teammates!"
"Danno, I'm sick, I'm not dead!" laughed the tall man as he took another swig of his beer. Danny hadn't yet busted him for drinking alcohol with his meds but maybe he was just feeling sorry for him at this point. He'd take what he could get.
"Yeah, any more remarks about my cousin in a bikini and you will be." said Chin in mock protectiveness, joining the bikini conversation.
"Hey, I know how I look in a bikini." smirked Kono, her dark eyes alight with mischief. "How do you think I hooked Tim?"
That caused the three men to frown all at once. Kono looked a little puzzled but didn't get a chance to dwell on their reaction. Just then, the boyfriend in question walked up to the group gathered around the fire and planted a kiss on his girl. He hugged her a little too hard and she yelped in pain, causing Cujo to emit a low growl.
Chin felt the little body begin to tense and the Hawaiian quickly handed him to Steve who gingerly took the growling little animal to try to calm him before things got out of hand.
"Hey, easy on the bod, caveman - still a little tender." smiled Kono at her handsome boyfriend who'd squeezed her a little too enthusiastically.
"Oh, sorry honey. I forgot." apologized Grayson, loosening his hold and giving her a peck on the cheek.
All three men rolled their eyes in unison. He forgot.
Grace - being her father's daughter - immediately noticed their reaction. "Danno, why did you and Uncle Steve and Uncle Chin look like that right now? You know, make your eyes look up at the sky?"
"Monkey, isn't it time for you to get ready for bed?" asked Danny, grabbing his daughter's shoulders and turning her toward the house.
"But Danno!" she whined "Why . . . "
"Go, I said or you won't get any of Aunt Kono's haupia before you go to bed. Scoot now!" he again interrupted her question, trying to get his daughter to shush before their unanimous opinion of Grayson became even more obvious.
"Aunt Angie, would you please take Gracie to get her jammies on? We're staying at Steve's tonight too." said the father of the too observant child.
"Oh boy! A pajama party!" exclaimed Danny's sister as she grabbed Grace's hand and practically skipped back to the house. They would have skipped but it's nearly impossible to do in soft sand. It turned into a kind of hopping jog instead.
"Kono, honey. Why don't you go with them. We're gonna engage in some 'guy talk' right now." said Grayson, a smug grin on his handsome face.
The slender woman nodded her head but looked perplexed as she reluctantly rose from her perch next to him to follow Angela and Gracie back up the short slope to the house. Guy talk? WTF?, she thought but not wanting to cause a scene, did as she was asked.
Surprised that Kono agreed to leave for such a lame reason, one that would have surely gotten them a stern lecture or worse from Ms. Kalakaua, the men were on their guard as they remained in front of the fire with Tim, waiting for him to begin the conversation.
"Look, I know you guys don't like me." stated Grayson, first to speak. "Kono and I aren't serious or anything. We're just two people out for a good time." he smiled at the stonelike panel of men staring back at him from across the fire.
"Does she know that?" scowled Chin, his usually unreadable face tense and his fingers flexing automatically as if, on their own, they would find themselves wrapped around someone's neck.
"Well, yeah. I mean we haven't discussed it or anything but it's not serious." he assured them in his oily way.
Danny almost expected him to launch into a spiel about a used Cadillac or try to sell them a magic chopper or some other 'miracle' kitchen device as seen on TV.
Just then, Cujo, as though in answer, growled again from the arm of the wooden chair in which sat his chosen human.
Danny never thought he'd agree with the barracuda but agree he did. He felt like growling himself; maybe even taking a bite out of the weasel's well-tanned ankle.
"We kind of got that impression when you didn't bother to show up at the hospital after Kono had been shot." said Steve pointedly, his eyes boring into Grayson.
"She was still asleep when I called to check on her. Like I said, I didn't think she'd even know I was there or not." re-iterated Grayson, still sounding not the least bit abashed at his callousness nor intimidated by the SEAL's 'thousand yard stare' as the blonde detective called it.
Max arrived just then, walking up to the fire, a buxom local beauty on his arm.
How does the guy do that? wondered Danny at the seeming ease with which their elf-like M.E. attracted women.
"Hey Max. Welcome to the party. Sit down, have a beer and introduce us to your friend." greeted Steve glad for the distraction from the slimeball with whom Kono was still enamored for reasons that escaped her ohana.
"Why, thank you . . . Steve." said Max in his odd cadence that didn't even seem odd any longer to his friends. "This is my . . . friend, Punani." He gestured toward the silken haired girl who smiled shyly back at them and gave a little wave.
The men all greeted her warmly; Chin the one to call attention to her name. He translated it for them as 'beautiful flower'.
Steve leaned back in his chair, enjoying the gathering in spite of the smug smile on that bastard Grayson's face.
From then on, the evening progressed amicably enough. Malia who had worked somewhat late and arrived separately from her husband was now sitting next to him by the fire. The newly-weds were wrapped in each other's arms; looking quite content.
Kamekona arrived with a girl Steve recognized as one of the waitresses at the Hilton. She was introduced to them as Susy and was a tiny little thing made to look even more miniscule by the great bulk of her date. She said hi in a helium fueled voice . . . like a younger sounding Missus Ratliff thought Steve with a shudder - though the girl was far more attractive . . . and nicer.
Lori and Angela sat next to each other comparing notes on techniques of how best to subdue an agitated suspect.
Steve listened to their conversation - Lori was all for talking him into submission while Angie seemed to lean toward just kicking ass and getting it over with. I knew I liked her!, he thought delightedly.
It seemed everyone had paired off in one way or another except Steve. Well, he sighed inwardly, it looks like my date for tonight is Cujo.
Cath was supposed to arrive tonight or tomorrow but exactly what time he didn't yet know. She was trying to get on a flight out of Guam but he knew it was up to whatever space was available on the next transport. He hadn't heard from her yet. She was supposed to give him a call when she'd secured a seat and let him know her ETA.
Gracie, Angie and Kono finally returned to the fire where talk turned to the Governor's New Year's Ball.
Even Angela got involved in the 'what are you going to wear' discussion that immediately broke out among the women and for some strange reason, Max and Kamekona. The other men sat quietly, bored out of their skulls listening to what they dismissively considered prattle.
Steve wished Cath were here to join in. He didn't even know if she was much into such things. Most of the time she was attired in camos, (or nothing at all) when they managed to get together. His attention snapped back to the conversation as Angie was extolling the virtues of push-up bras under one's gown.
Angie? Time to get another beer. Steve rose asking if anyone would like any refreshments. The 'girls' all giggled at him as one, even Gracie who wouldn't have need of such a garment for several more years . . . Thank God, thought her father and her uncles.
Angela thought she saw a bit of extra color on Steve's face as he fled to the kitchen. "Seems SuperSEAL isn't comfortable talking about ladies undergarments." she laughed.
"He's just probably more comfortable removing said undergarments from ladies." blurted out Danny before realizing he was probably talking out of turn and similarly fled to the house to 'help' his partner with the refreshments before his way too bright little girl began asking more questions.
There was more laughter from the group on the lanai. Who knew superSEAL was so old fashioned? And what's with Danny?
Cujo was left behind on Steve's chair. He was calmer but still didn't take his eyes off of Grayson. Whenever the man moved, a nearly inaudible growl would come from the little animal perched like a furry vulture on the wooden arm.
Grayson would glance nervously in the little cat's direction every time he shifted position on his own seat. That little fucker is getting on my nerves, just like his fucking owner. Well, it won't be long before that smug SEAL bastard is dead.
As for that annoying cat, he thought he'd taken care of the problem by shipping the little bastard off the island. Of course McGarrett would find a way to get him back. I should have killed that mangy little asshole! thought Grayson as he hugged Kono tighter against him, glaring at the cat almost triumphantly.
"Hey! Ow!" yelped the slender woman as Tim, once again, hugged her too tightly and at the wrong place on her still healing body.
With a loud growl ending in his signature screech, Cujo flew off the chair like he was spring-loaded, landed at Grayson's feet and sank his fangs into the bare ankle that so conveniently presented itself.
"Ow! Shit!" thundered Grayson, swinging his beer bottle at the creature attached to his ankle as Punani and Susy screamed in fright.
"Tim! NO!" yelled Kono as Steve, Danny hot on his heels, skidded to a sand scattering halt and quicker than one could blink, had Grayson around the neck in a choke hold.
"Steve! NO!" yelled Kono as she grabbed for the little cat while Danny grabbed for his partner before the SEAL could do more harm to Grayson than a punctured ankle.
"Cujo! NO!" Kono was beginning to feel she was repeating herself entirely too much.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH THE CAT!" thundered Steve, loosening his hold on Kono's hapless boyfriend as Danny tried to pry his partner's arms from around Grayson's neck.
Steve knew Cujo could be 'overzealous' sometimes so he wasn't really going to snap Grayson's neck like he could so easily do, (even though it was a temptation). He allowed Danny to prevail.
"You harm Kono or that cat and I'll break you in half." growled McGarrett into Grayson's ear his voice low, menacing and unheard by those around them before releasing his hold.
Kono had succeeded in pulling the feline off her boyfriend's ankle; miraculously without being bitten herself. Like his chosen human, once Cujo was locked on target, it wasn't wise to get in his way. She now held the little cat by the scruff as he squirmed and growled all manner of kitty threats, still trying to do-in the man he perceived as Kono's assailant.
Chin had quickly run back to the house to fetch the canvas bag he knew Steve conveniently kept in a cabinet by the front door.
He handed it to Steve who held it for Kono to drop the furiously growling cat into and quickly drew the sack closed.
They all stood breathing heavily. Grayson's face had darkened with fury. His ankle stung like a bitch.
McGarrett's eyes seemed to be drilling holes in him. They looked nearly black in spite of the glow of the fire.
"I'm so sorry Tim!" apologized Kono. "If I hadn't yelled like that, Cujo wouldn't have bitten you. It's my fault."
"It's not your fault, Kono." the SEAL's voice frightening with it's quiet menace. "If your 'friend'", he ground out the word, "hadn't held you too tight even though he knew better, Cujo wouldn't have thought you were being attacked." Steve's eyes never left Grayson's.
"I know he was only trying to defend me, I'm sorry, Boss." apologized Kono again, wishing it had never happened.
"Hey! I'm the one who got bit! It's probably gonna leave a scar!" whined Grayson. "I think someone owes me an apology - other than Kono's."
"Dream on" snapped Danny, insinuating himself between his partner and Grayson. He could see the tension in Steve's body. It wouldn't take much for his partner to snap and finish what Cujo had started.
The cat continued to growl from inside his canvas prison set on the sand next to them.
"Kono, why don't we take Tim up to the house to get his ankle checked out. I'm sure it must sting a little and we need to clean it up." suggested Malia. She and Chin made a good team - the voices of reason and calm in nearly every situation.
"Come on, Tim." said Kono putting her arm around her boyfriend's tense shoulders and using her other to tug him along. "Malia's a doctor, she'll know how to patch you up."
McGarrett and Grayson continued their angry staredown for another moment before Grayson grudgingly said "Sure" and walked with the two women to get his ankle tended to.
"Good job, cat." said McGarrett to the growling, wriggling canvas bag at his feet.
"Close one, Brah!" breathed Kamekona to Max as he comforted Susy in his huge arms, her tiny body almost disappearing in his embrace. "The popoki was almost on his way to da big house!"
"Who wants a beer?" huffed Steve as the group exhaled nearly as one in relief, glad that only Cujo had spilled anyone's blood that night.
"Why don't they just piss in the corners?" whispered Angela to Lori who, at first, looked shocked then recognized what the dark-haired woman meant and almost sprayed a mouthful of beer on her companion as she tried not to laugh aloud.
Yeah, cat, SEAL, boyfriend . . . way too much macho in one place at one time. Maybe picking a corner to mark was a good idea. Less lethal than bloodshed. Lori was glad Steve didn't catch them in the conspiratorial whisper. That would be awkward to say the least and until everyone calmed down, maybe even a little dangerous.
Growls and curses in cat language still issued from the bag that squirmed on the sand. Cujo had done what they'd all wanted to do. Lori vowed to get their smallest detective some extra special treats. Were there mouse or lizard flavored Friskies?
...
Ricardo finished checking his equipment. The boat was ready. The guns were ready. This was going to be spectacular. The smuggling industry, if not the entire world, was going to speak of it for years to come.
His jeffe would get his revenge. The state would be in chaos. The door would be wide open for even more profitable ventures.
He thought of sitting on his veranda at home, a cold drink in his hand and basking in the glory of it all as he told the story to his compadres. A smile played over his face as he checked the well-oiled action on his gun.
*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0* Hawaii 5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*5-0*
TBC
Note: After this story is complete, I won't be posting any more until I get a laptop. The ETA is by the end of August. It's been difficult to post updates without my own computer. Every word was written in longhand before being transcribed in all-night sessions on borrowed equipment. While I really don't mind, I don't think it's fair to the readers to have to wait so long for updates. Will still be reading and reviewing when I can. Thanks again.