A/N: Are there any NCIS: Los Angeles fans out there? I know there are, who am I kidding? So, Catherine and Toast, for the next few chapters will be my way of paying homage to a show that has recently become one of my favorites as well. When you think of Cat and Toast, I hope they remind you of Eric and Nell. I think that is one of the things that Five-O as a show really needs. They need an operations specialist, or two, with quirky personalities and brilliant minds. In my little world, where everything is perfect, Cat and Toast are my Eric and Nell.

Enjoy.

Chapter 25: Break

From inside the office Lori and Chin watched in awed silence as Danny went live. Toast and Catherine remained glued to their monitors, watching for any surge or link, or kink, in their code, all the while they listened as Danny's voice filled the office from the video feed. They were proud to know that they had done everything in their powers to save him and bring him back to their crew safely, but most of all they realized just how much Danny held them together, brought out the best in them and fed them with the knowledge to continue on.

A chill ran down all of their backs as they listened to the passion and the fear, and the determination and urgency that were relayed through every word that Danny spoke. McMahon's previous crimes were horrific, his new crimes monstrous, and Danny's honesty at his own ordeal cut them all right to the quick. Before they knew what was going on, the speech was over, the news went back to the anchors at the desk and the next headline was read. A communal sigh arose from the Five-Os when the broadcast was done and all had gone according to plan, and without incidence.

Then suddenly Toast spoke.

"It's groundhogs day!" Toast stated as he watched the monitor before him, "and it looks like our guy has taken the bait!"

"What have you found?" Catherine asked as she rolled her chair up next to Toast and stared at what he was pointing at, as Lori and Chin rushed to see as well. "That wasn't there before!" Catherine stated as a line of code started to spread out in the mix of lines and numbers that Toast was watching.

"Oh but it was, just before McMahon cut the power to Danny in the box. That right there is the rebirth of our residual signal." Toast explained. "That is exactly what Danny predicted would happen."

"Holy shit, it worked" Lori gasped.

"Can you lock onto it?" Chin asked.

"I've been programming a special little bug just for this occasion" Toast stated with a couple of clicks, "locked and loaded" he added as new code started to appear rapidly across the screen.

"Is he trying to get into our system?" Chin asked and turned to the monitors that still played the news feed.

"He's trying to but as far as he can tell we're still off line." Toast stated.

"We've boxed in the system with high level military inscriptions. There is nothing to see here but a powerless void." Catherine explained.

"But on our end we can send out our bugs and hopefully get a full lock on where he is now that we have a signal." Toast explained. "It may take a while, but good things always come to those who wait!"

"What if he goes off line again?" Lori asked.

"I've locked onto the signal; even if it goes offline I will still have the residual link. We are online way above the grid and his capabilities. We have him exactly where we want him." Toast stated proudly and leaned back in his chair, "come to papa!"

5-0

Steve and Danny made their way back to the bullpen with Kono who had come down from the roof with a riffle under her arm. They walked in together to find everyone crowded around Toast and his computer screen.

"What's going on?" Steve asked.

"McMahon is trying to connect with the bullpen with his old code." Catherine stated.

"And I'm ready to let him," Toast stated with a smirk, "because I have a solid lock on his signal and I want him to believe that he still has all his access."

"Let him believe that," Danny stated. "I'd love to talk to him."

"Going black" Toast stated as all of the monitors died and silence fell in the expanses of the Five-O headquarters.

5-0

"Well, well, well, if you weren't saved by the good witch of the north and her little bubbles." McMahon's voice boomed from the system. "How's the air in there?" he asked mockingly.

"Give it up, Daniel, we won. Steve and the team found me, and saved me, and proved themselves to you." Danny was the first to speak as he motioned for everyone else to stay silent when the video screens didn't come back on.

"I'm so glad little Stevie proved himself." McMahon chuckled, "he has strong feelings for you and you for him, but you know how I feel about feelings. No, I have new plans for you and I want to watch you scramble. You deserve to scramble after the slanderous things you just told the whole island about me. That wasn't very nice Daniel. And imagine my surprise to see you standing there in that uniform, sadly Steven looks better in uniform then you do, but wow, alive and breathing. However did you manage that one?"

"Luck I guess."

"Oh Daniel there is no such thing as luck. No higher power watching out for you, just the mind. Your body was running on sheer adrenalin and willing itself to live. You lived because your body is strong and because your friends worked fast enough to save you." McMahon yelled. "Don't you ever be that stupid to think something else is out there that can save you; there is no divine intervention. It is that which makes you weak and I will get my hands on you, my pretty and your little dog too! Just you wait, Henry Higgins, just you wait!" he cackled wickedly and then the sounds went dead again.

A/N: This chapters pop culture references come from the Wizard of Oz and My Fair Lady. And Toast being awesome!