10 hours
10 hours left until the celebrations could begin. It was a milestone. The big 40 and Danny was adamant that Steve wasn't going to ruin it. Danny had roped not only Chin and Kono, but their whole Ohana. Even Mary had been involved in making sure Steve had no clue about what they were planning for his birthday.
9 hours
So far the plan was going well. Fortunately, the team had caught a case. With their minds on figuring out who murdered their unidentified victim. Danny could, at least for the moment, stop worrying about the celebration.
8 hours
No leads. No identification on the victim, the team couldn't do anything, but hope Max could them a name and cause of death.
7 hours
That could have been a close call, but luckily Chin spotted as soon as Danny's office door opened. Almost immediately, both Kono and Danny looked towards Steve's direction and stopped talking. Walking past a suspicious Steve, the two cousins said their 'good mornings' and went back to their work, As soon as they left, Danny could sense what was coming next.
6 hours
Having successfully dodged a bullet earlier on by telling Steve he was being paranoid, Danny had another problem. He had the cake in the car and was going to drop it off at HQ, but they had been called out. So the cake was in the car and so was Steve. Danny just prayed that the boot didn't need to be opened.
5 hours
Steve, Danny, Chin and Kono arrived at their destination they were called out to. Arriving on scene they were met by Lou and his SWAT team. Danny's face dropped when Lou told them the suspect was dangerous and they needed to vest up. Their gear was in the boot with the cake. Steve made a move towards the Camero. Danny tried to stop him. Chin tried to stop him. Too late. "I like buttercream. Buttercream's my favourite." Danny heard Steve say.
4 hours
They were close to solving the case. Yet, now the birthday was ruined, well the cake part was. Ther was still the actual party. Now Danny had to just get another cake.
3 hours
Cake bought, Danny placed it in his office under lock and key. Steve and Chin were interrogating the suspect while ono was looking into recent money transfers into offshore accounts.
2 hours
Chin returned from the interrogation room. Steve had not. Danny knew what tactic Steve was playing It was a role he aways played when the suspects weren't cooperating. Eventually Steve reappeared and announced the suspect confessed to the murder of their victim.
1 hour
Paperwork. Loads of paperwork. Luckily, Steve had ordered Danny to stay behind and help. Happily, Danny did since it would give Chin, Kono and the rest of their Ohana enough time to organise and set up the party preparations. Danny smiled to himself, happily knowing his surprise was going to go a planned. He couldn't wait to see Steve's reaction.
0 hours
"You can't surprise a Navy SEAL." Steve too them. How wrong he was. Not only was Steve shocked to find everyone on the beach behind his house, but the birthday cake did too. That was the best part for everyone apart for Steve. And no wonder, the cake was salty.
It only took 10 hours to pull off.