505050 ***** Please be forewarned, This chapter contains a reference to suicide ***** 505050

Danny's phone rang and looking at the clock he noted it was almost midnight.

He flipped open his cell, "Steve?"
The line was silent, "Steve? Answer me buddy"
"Danno….."
"Steve, hey you're scaring me. Where in the hell are you?"
"Danno…..'m sorry…oh God I can't …..can't do this anymore….."

Steve was sloshed, his speech slurred and Danny could hear the shakiness in his voice. "Steve, tell me where you are babe"
"I'm sorry…"
"Steve did you do something stupid?"
"Huh? What?"
"Steve are you hurt?"
"What…no…..'m not hurt"
"Steven John McGarrett listen to me, where are you right now!"

"I'm at Duke's. Are you …..you mad at me partner?"
"No I'm not mad at you. Are you inside the bar?"
"No…'m in my truck. 'M gonna go home now"
Danny had fallen asleep on the couch so he was wearing sweats and a t-shirt. He had moved to the door and was slipping on his shoes, "No buddy you're not driving home. You've had a little too much drink haven't you?"

"I just hh...had a little, 'm fine"
Danny had grabbed his keys and was on his way to his Camero, "I think you've had more than a little babe. I'm on my way and I'll be there in fifteen minutes. I need you to listen to me partner. Where are your truck keys?"

"You can't ddrive yet"
Danny lied to his partner, "Yes, yes I can so answer me, where are your keys?"

"I dunno, can't find 'em"
"Well it's a good thing you called me then, do you know why?"
"Cause you're a de…..tective….can you find 'em for me?"
"I will but you promise me you'll stay right where you are until I get there okay?"
"Okee dokee Daniel!"

'Okee dokee'?, God he needed to keep Steve talking until he could get there, "Steve what time did you get to Duke's tonight?"
"A little while ago…..after I left work"
"Buddy you left work at at probably what, six o'clock, that's six hours ago. Have you been drinking ever since?"
"Yup…Danny, I gotta go now"
"No, you promised me you'd wait right there in your truck"

"Danny, I gotta piss. I'm going go back inside"
"Alright, just go to the head and then call me back okay?"
"Gotcha partner….hey Danny? I love you"
"I love you too you big goof, now get to the head and then back to your truck and I'll be there in a few minutes"
"Okee dokee Daniel!"

The phone disconnected and Danny shook his head chuckling at his drunken partner. His leg was very cramped but he had no choice, driving with a bum leg was safer than Steve getting behind the wheel in his condition. A few minutes later he dialed Steve's cell and the man answered, his voice again filled with emotion "Danno?"

"Yeah it's me. Where are you buddy?"
"DDanno…I'm ssorry…I'm a horrible partner…..I'm ssorry"
Steve was crying, "Steve, listen to me now….tell me where you are"
"I told yyou…..I'm at Duke's"
"Are you back at your truck?"
"Uuhh huh…Danny do you kknow that I…I llovee yyou?"
Danny talked quietly, "Yeah brother I know that. You know I love you too right?"

Danny listened to the muffled sobs of his partner as he raced through a yellow light about a mile from Duke's.
"Steve, it's going to be okay buddy I promise. I'm almost there"
"Danno…..it's over….I cc….can't Danno…..I can't…..do tthis"

Danny blood ran cold as he heard the unmistakable sound of a gun cocking, "STEVE! STEVE WHAT ARE YOU DOING BABE!" The only sounds he heard were the soft tortured sobs coming from his distraught partner. Danny's voice was shaking with fear as he hollered, "STEVE DON'T YOU DO THIS TO ME PARTNER, DO YOU HEAR ME! YOU SON-OF-A-BITCH DON'T YOU DARE DO THIS TO ME, TO CHIN AND KONO, TO GRACIE…GOD STEVEN TALK TO ME PLEASE…..I LOVE YOU"

"Danny…I hurt…..I just ccan't do it anymore…..God I hhurt Danny"
"I know partner, I'm almost there…let me help you Steve"
"You can't hhelp me Danno….no one ccan help me"

Danny pulled into the parking lot spotting Steve's truck at the far end of the lot. He raced towards it praying he wouldn't be too late.

As he drew closer he saw Steve sitting on the ground at the rear of his truck. His head was drooped to his chest, his hands in his lap. Danny was screaming frantically into his phone pleading for his partner to talk to him, his terror rising with every second that passed.

The Camero screeched to a halt and moving as quickly as his damaged leg allowed he was soon standing over Steve.

"Steve? Oh shit Steve..." Danny Williams was shaking as he dropped to his knees at his partner's side.
Steve was mumbling softly, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry"

Danny placed his hand on top of Steve's right hand taking the man's gun from him.
He then moved close and pulled his friend to his chest whispering into his ear, "I'm here buddy, get it all out. I've got you babe"
They sat like this for about fifteen minutes with Danny cradling his shaking partner in his arms.

As Steve calmed down Danny kept talking softly finally stating, "Let's get you home partner and we can talk okay?"
Steve's only response was a nod and together they pulled themselves up with the drunken SEAL leaning against the truck. Danny hobbled slightly as the pain shot through his leg and as he stood he put Steve's gun into his waistband.

Danny then told him, "Put your phone in your pocket so you don't lose it. Did you find your keys partner?"
"No...can't ffind 'em"
"Well check your pockets again quick okay?" As he did that Danny moved to go check the truck and there were the keys, hanging from the the door lock. Danny grabbed the keys and pushing the auto button he locked the vehicle.

Steve was still fumbling with his pockets and they were all turned inside out as Danny approached him.
Danny held them up, jiggling them, "Hey buddy look what I found!"
Steve smiled slightly, "I knew you cc...could find 'em. You're a damn ggood detective Daanno"
"I'll remind you of that once you're sober, I could use a raise!"
"You got it!"
"Oh yeah, well I'll remind you that you said that as well. Come on, let's get out of here"

Putting his arm around his friend they made their way to the car and headed home.

Steve passed out almost instantly and Danny decided it best to let him sleep otherwise the man would more than likely be puking in his car.
They arrived at Steve's about twenty minutes later and after unlocking the house Danny went back for Steve.

He was hobbling quite heavily and he hoped he would be able to revive his partner enough so he could walk because he sure didn't feel strong enough to carry his larger friend.

Opening the car door he starting patting Steve's cheeks, "Steve, wake up man. Come on Steven let's go!" After increasing the strength of the 'pats' Steve finally came around.
"What? Stop hittin' me Danno"
"Well I can't carry you brother, so let's get inside okay?"
"Sure...'m fine"

Pushing Danny away Steve stepped from the car and instantly fell to the ground, "Oops"
Danny shrugged, "Yeah oops...you're gonna feel like shit in the morning buddy" Closing the door and locking the car he held out a hand to his partner and helped him to his feet and into the house.