Steve sat on the ground cradling the gun in his bloodied hands for well over an hour. He knew what he had to do but this wasn't the place to do it. He looked down at his clothes, filthy and smelly, drenched in sweat and covered in his vomit. This is what his actions over the years had brought him to, but it would all be over soon….peace and no more tortured dreams for him but more importantly safety for those he loved. He would no longer bring danger to Gracie, Danny, Chin, Kono, MaryAnn or his beloved Catherine. He thought of them all, as well as of his Mother and Joe, lovable Kamekona and sweet Max. He knew that they would mourn him but he also knew that this was what he had to do, it was the best thing for him…it was the best thing for them. He really didn't have the strength to walk any further but he knew about half a mile down the path there was easy access to a waterfall. A beautiful waterfall, peaceful and calming. Moaning in pain as he stood, he walked on.
505050505050505050505050
Danny had been on the path for a little more than an hour when he came across the young couple walking towards him. Seeing his badge and the gun on his hip the young man spoke nervously as he approached.
"Are you a police officer?"
"I'm a detective. Danny Williams. I'm hoping you can help me"
The men shook hands, "My name is Luke Ramstead and this is my girlfriend Cheyenne Tatro. We ran into a guy who's in trouble about two miles down the road. He pulled a gun on us"
Cheyenne added, "He was crazy Officer"
Luke added, "He was definitely on something"
Danny knew but he needed to confirm, "Was he about 6'1, dark hair?"
The pair answered in unison, "Yes"
Danny ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply, "I need to find him but I'm going to need your help. He's my partner.
Luke interrupted him, "Your partner? Well I'm telling you he was high on something and he scared the hell out of us"
Danny had to calm the young man down and he decided he had no other choice but to tell them the truth, "Look...I'm sorry and you're right, he's on something. He was undercover on a mission and was held by a drug cartel. He was tortured and they hooked him on Meth. He's an ex-Navy SEAL and it's very important that I know what his mental state is. Please tell me EVERYTHING you can think of"
Luke spoke calmly, "He was sitting on the ground with his back to us. He had his hands clenched behind his head, his knees were pulled up and his head was pulled down to them. He was rocking back and forth and he was mumbling. As we got closer he sensed us coming and he stood and spun around with his gun drawn. He was so damn quick but his hands were shaking really bad. And his eyes man….they were scary…..his voice was shaking and he kept saying over and over 'he's dead and it's all my fault'. We started to back away and suddenly he grabbed at his head and screamed at us to go and to leave him alone"
Danny's voice shook as he asked, "Anything else you can think of at all?"
The couple looked at each other and shaking their heads they both stated there was nothing else.
"The whole thing was over in just a few minutes. He just scared us detective"
"I know and I'm sorry for that, he's not in his right mind right now. He's trying to beat this crap on his own and I have to find him. I need to ask you for a couple of favors"
"What do you need from us?"
"First if you follow this path straight out of here you'll run into a small shed"
Cheyenne jumped in, "Yes, we saw it when we got here"
"We work for a special Task Force that answers directly to the Governor. Our other team members Chin Ho Kelly and Kono Kalakaua are searching down other paths for Steve and we were all meeting back at the shed at about seven thirty. They should be there when you arrive. Can you tell them what happened and send them this way"
Luke spoke, "Of course, we can do that. What else do you need from us?"
"Your silence. I can only request this, what you do is totally up to you. I can tell you the Governor knows what's happening as do high ranking HPD Officers. We're all hoping to keep this out of the press, for Steve's sake" Danny's voice shook slightly as he continued, "I mentioned that Steve is an ex-Navy SEAL. He actually led SEAL Teams for eight years and is highly decorated. Unfortunately though even with him having nothing to do with his current condition, if this goes public…it could destroy his career. I can tell you that I've never known a more honorable and decent man than Steve"
"Can you tell us who he killed? What he was talking about?"
"It's classified but I can tell you he's talking about one of his SEAL's who was killed on a mission. Steve's had trouble accepting his death and he's had misplaced guilt over it"
Cheyenne looked into Danny's eyes, "We won't say anything detective. My cousin is a SEAL. We hope you find him and can help him"
Tears welled in Danny's eyes as he said quietly, "Thank you both" He reached into his pocket, pulled out a business card and handed it to Luke, "Here's my card. Please leave your names and phone number with Kono and when this is all over I'll give you a call. I'm sure Steve will want to meet you under different and better circumstances" The three then shook hands and parted ways with Danny jogging down the path praying he would find Steve in time.
505050505050505050505050
Steve reached his destination and looking at the waterfall to his left he knew he was where he needed to be. He would stay here and sort everything out in his head. He had a lot of thinking to do. There was an area underneath the waterfall, a large flat rock where he could sit and think, and if he decided…..he cursed himself out loud, "DAMN IT McGarrett don't you dare lose your nerve"
He knew the path that led to the waterfall was about a quarter of a mile further down the main path and he decided to just walk across the waist deep water. Looking down at his clothes, soiled with sweat and vomit and smelling horribly he stripped down to his boxers. It was still very warm outside but as the air hit his sweat-drenched body a shiver ran down his spine. Slipping his tennis shoes back on and with the bag thrown over his shoulder Steve entered the water.
The water was warm and calm as it washed over his body, cleansing him. He moved slowly not only because it was all his aching body would allow but also the water bed was extremely rocky and slippery. About halfway across, his foot slipped and Steve fell, his body fully submerged under the water. His shoulder and head both came into contact with jagged rocks and he instinctively pushed himself up gasping for air. He sat on his knees as he coughed and spit water from his lungs. Reaching up to touch his head he grimaced, pulling back a blood covered hand. He also glanced down at his right shoulder noting a jagged gash approximately seven inches long. His head was spinning and he again was overcome with nausea causing him to vomit violently. His knees hurt and he knew they were being cut up by the rocks. He couldn't move for quite a while until the nausea and dizziness subsided.
Finally, moaning as he stood and with blood running down his face he began to gingerly make his way again towards the waterfall.
He reached his destination without further incident and opening up the bag he took out the guns and ammunition placing them onto the rock. Not having any medical supplies with him he chuckled softly as he thought, 'I guess God's decided my fate….I'll probably bleed to death by morning' Curling into a fetal position, Steve closed his tired eyes and letting out a sigh he let his mind take him back to Afghanistan and the mission where he had lost his first man...….he had now come to the realization that it wasn't only the last three years that had been for nothing, his entire adult life had been for nothing. He had caused so much pain to so many people….he hoped that when he was gone their pain would ease. Steve McGarrett was ready to die.
505050505050505050505050
Danny continued to jog down the path. His eyes were searching from side to side and it was beginning to get dark. Suddenly a feeling of overwhelming dread came over him and he picked up his pace. He HAD to find Steve before dark…he HAD to.
He had been running for about twenty minutes when he saw it. A pile in the path directly in front of him. He couldn't tell what it was as he called out, "STEVE!" and ran faster towards the pile. As he drew closer he breathed a sigh of relief realizing that the heap was simply clothes and not his partner.
As he reached the clothes he could see and smell how soiled they were. The brief feeling of relief he had felt a short time earlier was replaced by sheer terror as looking to his left he saw Steve lying motionless on the rock behind the waterfall. Even at this distance he could see the guns and he could see the blood covering his partner's head. "NO…..NO STEVE….OH GOD NO!" Danny raced into the water moving as quickly as he could towards his fallen partner.
******* MUCH MORE TO COME. THANKS FOR READING AND REVIEWING ! ********
