A/N: I know you were all hoping for a big rant on Veronica's side, but that doesn't happen. She does have a very motherly moment, that I kinda love, not going to lie, and then we get into a little foolishness and peer pressure. We'll be back on the case next chapter! I promise!
Enjoy!
Chapter 28: The Tie Conundrum
The next morning Danny was the first to wake up as the stiffness of the previous day mixed with the nagging pull of the stitches in his side caused sleep to be elusive. He showered, changed and made his way to the kitchen just as Steve woke up as well.
Veronica was already in the kitchen with breakfast on the go and a scowl on her face. The night before she had met the boys at the door, arms folded across her chest and a murder in her eyes. She didn't say a word to them only pointed up the stairs, handed Danny his pain killers and sent them off to bed…no dinner.
"Sorry about last night Ma," Danny stated cheerfully, pecked his mother on the cheek and her scowl disappeared as he entered the kitchen the following morning.
"You had better be making good ground on the case or I don't see how you could merit ignoring your mother's phone calls." Veronica said, scolding her son, but there wasn't any real anger in her tone anymore.
"I wish," Danny sighed and sat down, "the more we dig into it, the more questions and speculations we have. People keep dying, and we kinda have an idea who is behind it, but we don't have the evidence we need yet to go after them. I don't know how it could even be possible to hate your family so much to want to wipe them out but that seems to be the case, with this case." He added and his face spoke volumes of the moral dilemma the idea was causing. "I just don't get it Ma."
"When you live in a family with secrets and a lack of respect and honesty, how would you not feel resentment toward the people around you? Now you, on the other hand, my son, my beautiful boy, were brought up much differently. We were strict but honest, we were fair and loving but hard on you, holding you to very high expectations, and above all we gave you space to grow and be independent. We didn't play to your every whim, we didn't buy you frivolous things but we gave you love worth more then money could ever buy. You resent for a few moments and then you realize that it is all done for the love of one another and the resentment passes. You, my child, have been very lucky in your upbringing and there are many people in this world that do not have what you have." Veronica explained as she placed a plate of French toast before her eldest son and smiled.
"I love you Mom," Danny smiled up at her.
"I love you too," she smiled, pecked him on the cheek and moved back to the stove as Steve entered the room.
"Morning Ma" Steve stated cheerfully and pecked her on the cheek as well. "Something smells amazing!" he added and looked over her shoulder.
"Breakfast?" Veronica questioned with a laugh and handed Steve a plate and shooed him toward the table.
"Thank you," he stated and plopped himself down beside Danny.
"So, when we get back to Hawaii am I going to have to break you out of the habit of wearing ties again?" Steve asked eyeing Danny's attire.
"Its winter, the tie keeps my collar securely buttoned and snug. I might not catch a cold because of it so it technically has a purpose here in New Jersey, although I'll probably wear a scarf too." Danny explained as his mother shot him a look of warning, "Not to mention, if you hadn't noticed, I wasn't the only one in the precinct wearing one, and that might be another reason why Chief Bromwell dislikes you, he is a big fan of professionalism on the job, 'so put on a tie, god damn it, or get the hell out of my precinct'!" Danny added mimicking the Chief's raspy voice. "If you'd like to try one out with the shirt you've chosen for today, I'd be more then happy to lend you one." He added eyeing the dark blue button down shirt Steve was sporting; buttoned up to the top with long sleeves all the way to the wrists.
"I'll admit to having been some what chilled yesterday," Steve stated, "but I'm not wearing a tie!" he added as Chin entered the room, thanked Veronica once more for the accommodations and the hospitality and moved to take a seat with Danny and Steve.
"Nice tie!" Danny stated with a smirk toward Chin as he sat down and Steve realized how professional it made Chin look.
"Thanks," Chin laughed. "I feel like a true New Jersey Detective now, and you're right, it is warmer." He added.
Danny shot a glance and a smirk at Steve and went back to eating.
Moments later Kono arrived sporting long, fitted slacks, a white collard shirt and suspenders, with a tie around her neck, loosely fastened, and acting more like and accessory then a formal tie.
"What's with the ties?" Steve asked as he eyed Kono with suspicion.
"Are you being sexist?" Kono asked accusingly. "Gonna try and tell me that girls can't wear ties?"
"Not at all, I just missed the memo that it was tie day," Steve smirked as Lori came in also wearing a tie that was tucked into the waist coat she was wearing. Lori's look wasn't as trendy as Kono's but stylishly professional. Lori's was pink and black and fit perfectly with the grey pant suit and waist coat that she wore over a light baby pink collared dress shirt.
"Well don't you all look like a pack of detectives today." Veronica stated as she brought the ladies their breakfast.
"I loved wearing this suit!" Lori explained, "When I was based out of Washington it was the norm to wear a suit. Coming to Hawaii made it difficult but here it just seemed appropriate here."
"I have got to get me one of those!" Kono stated admiring the suit.
"We'll have to go shopping in the city before we leave," Lori stated.
"I'll call my niece Penelope, she has a whole suit collection, wears one almost every day for her job, she'll know exactly where to take you." Veronica smiled as she sat down with her family.
"Okay, Danny, I'll take you up on the tie offer," Steve whispered as the girls carried on their conversation and made shopping plans with Veronica.
"Steve McGarrett has fallen victim to peer pressure!" Danny laughed as Peter entered the kitchen wearing his usual attire, including a tie, and was welcomed into the fold.
"I just don't want to be the odd man out," Steve confessed sheepishly, "but I'll hate it the whole time, and I don't think it will put me into Chief Bromwell's good books."
"Fair enough" Danny laughed, "to tell you the truth, I dislike them myself but that's the price of professionalism and warmth." Danny added with a shiver as he looked outside to the still falling snow.
