ʻO kahi pilikino o ke kaikunāne - A Brother's Homecoming

by XxxNCISHawaiiFive-0ObsessedXxx

Scott McGarrett brother of Steve McGarrett hasn't been back to Oahu since his father's funeral. He's back now with a team of his own under his command. When an unidentified body is found by Five-0 in his hotel room, later identified as a Marine can Five-0 and NCIS work together to find the killer before they strike again.

21. Chapter 17 - The Final Showdown

Warnings: Canon typical violence

Disclaimer: I don't own Hawaii Five-0, or its characters; they belong to CBS. Only ones I own are the ones I've stated I do (I created Jeff Taylor and his son Dominic), so all the bad guys except for the ringleader Georg Rutherford. All unrecognized OC's not created by other authors are of my own creation.

A/N: The first half of the chapter is sort of snapshots or snippets of certain characters' days, so if it seems a bit choppy and disconnected I'm sorry. Every snippet or snapshot does drive the story forward toward the final showdown with Rutherford and his fight club.

Sorry if Doris McGarrett is a little out of character. I figure with Scott's altered mental state. She'd act slightly differently, more motherly than she did in the show towards Steve in her own weird way. Also if it seems like Scott does't really have the mind of a child like I've been saying for the past few chapters. I'm phasing that part of his diagnosis out. So Scott still has his full 40 year old adult mindset, he just has trouble or a slower time processing spoken things and has trouble reading and writing and other things but those will be explain in a later story.

There are just things that I want to happen in Season 10 and beyond, things that do happen in cannon in Season 10, that I want him to be fully aware of. Be able to process it as well as a person with his severity of a TBI can.

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Read. Review. Enjoy.

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Chapter 17

0800 Hours. 29 July 2019. Honolulu International Airport - Departure Terminal, Honolulu, HI

The OG Five-0 team including the new members Tani and Junior along with Adam were at the airport with Steve, Danny, Lou and Scott to see Chin and Kono off at the airport. The kids, Grace, Will, Samantha, Charlie, Joanie and the McGarrett boys had all said their goodbye to their Uncle Chin and Auntie Kono last night, at the BBQ. They weren't just dropping them off at the curb, thanks to their Five-0 badges it earned them a certain privilege they didn't use that privilege often, but Scott liked watching the planes take off and the only way he could do that was if they were allowed to go up to the gate with Chin and Kono.

The group of seven friends get through security and up to Chin and Kono's gates with ease. It's a Monday morning and usually flights are booked full. Both Chin and Kono managed to get flights out within an hour and half of each other, but with different airlines.

Chin's flight is at 1035 hours with Hawaiian Airlines and he's got one stop in Maui before he takes that flight on to San Francisco. He'll get back home to San Fran at around 2135 hours or 9:35 pm, so he's taking an Uber back he'd told Abby he didn't want her to have to wait up for him.

Kono's flight is at 1150 hours out of Alaska Airlines and she's also got one stop, but it's an 11h and 12 min layover in Portland, Oregon. There's no way she's spending eleven hours in an airport so she's staying at a nearby hotel to get some shut eye. Than when she finally makes it to Reno, there weren't any direct nonstop flights from here to Carson City so this is what she's got. Than from Reno she's got a thirty-seven make it forty-five-minute drive to Carson City and her house with her nice big queen sized bed.

Kono's had a good time at home here seeing her family and her Five-0 Ohana, she was glad she got to meet Tani and Junior and remain courteous to Adam while they were working temporarily with each other. The sex trafficking ring she was set on dismantling three years ago with that one case the team caught is still ongoing. She's still finding girls in all parts of the U.S. She'll come back to help her ohana though if the NCIS team and Five-0 get clearance from the Governor to have her and Chin help the two teams.

The group of seven are gathered around a bank of square black leather airport seats. The departure gate is practically empty at this early hour.

"It was really great seeing you two again, we all missed you." Danny says "The kids had a great time hanging out with their Uncle and Auntie."

"It wasn't just the kids Danno you know that." Steve grins and bumps Danny's right shoulder with his left.

"Right you big lug I had fun surfing okay it reminded me of old times. Kono you're the best surf instructor I ever could have asked for."

"Aww brah you're gonna make me blush." Kono says.

"That's a hard thing to do, Danny only Kono's eighth grade dance partner made her do that." Chin remarks. Kono swats her older cousin over his shoulder embarrassed.

"You said you wouldn't bring that up ever again."

"You guys really got to make it back out here more often, yeah here. Not for just when you know what hits the fan." Lou hedges and looks over at the younger McGarrett the man practically has his nose plastered to the glass and is looking out with awe sheer childlike wonder as he watches the planes go and take off.

"We should definitely and we'll try. You'll keep us updated on him, brah how he's doing." Chin asks Steve.

"Of course Chin, you watch in the next few months he'll be up and running circles around us all again."

"I'll bet he's as stubborn as his older brother and twice as determined."

"We better let you all get back to your days." Kono says.

"It was really great to finally meet you Kono. you've got my number right give me a call sometime girl." Tani says and she wraps the other woman in a hug.

"You too Tani. And hey between us ladies. Junior seems like a keeper. Do whatever you can to keep him." Kono whispers and winks. Tani balks at that statement. She and Junior weren't, I mean they were partners. Just because they partners didn't mean they'd eventually evolve into something more like the bosses did. "You seem good together." She added as she looked briefly over at Junior who was over by the window with Scott pointing out some plane in the distance to him.

"Weren't not together." Tani finally says.

"Mmhm that's what the bosses' said before they finally got their crap together and Danny proposed."

"I think we're a long way off from that, but thanks for the advice."

"No problem sistah."

"Kono cuz sorry to break up the girl chat, but we should probably really let these guys get to going." Chin walks over with the rest of the team and Junior notices the older Hawaiian man's movements toward his cousin in the glass. Junior gets Scott's attention long enough to pull him away from the planes to come say a 'see yah later' to his friends.

"A hui hou." Scott proclaims and hugs both Chin and Kono together. He steps back with his right foot and he wobbles a bit, but he manages to catch himself, even though he feels his brother and Danny close by. "I not fall Steve." Scott glares at his brother briefly.

"Scott, you just spoke Hawaiian a simple phrase but you spoke another language." Steve tells his brother's surprise clear on his face. His brother's language center of his brain was affected by the TBI. He read up on that, and it wasn't uncommon for TBI patients to wake up and be speaking another language. This isn't that though; this Steve has to tell Scott's speech pathologist when he drops him off at the rehab ward at Tripler later this morning.

Scott just stares back at his brother and the others not knowing what to say. It just felt right to Scott to say what he said in that language and he did, without any stutter, or pausing and he had perfect pronunciation. The group leave the two cousins at their gates, and walk back through the airport to head on back out and start their respective days.

---

1008 Hours. 31 July 2019, Wednesday - Tripler Army Medical Center, Moanalua, Oahu.

"You can't tell me what to do with my kids, three of whom are still minors." Brooke tells the blond federal agent crossing her arms over her chest and giving him a look.

"I may not be able too, but you need to stop thinking about yourself and your feelings and think about what is best for your boys. They don't mind driving up to Tripler from the house to see their dad you're the only one with a problem with it. Think about it Brooke you know I'm right. I know this hard on you, forget the added circumstances surrounding Scott's sexuality and his relationship with me at work for a minute. The minute his doctor told us all of the TBI diagnosis, I knew I'd be losing a part of my partner, a part of my friend I never had the chance to know."

Lane'll never admit to anyone he'll deny deny deny that he teared up openly in front of his friends' wife. There was that saying about you can't miss what you never had. So once Lane was done with his little tearing up jag, he squared his shoulders and sucked it up. He'd have Scott anyway he could have him, even if he was in a wheelchair permanently and nonverbal he'd still love him. Thankfully he wasn't, but their bond was something special. The love Lane had for his partner and friend now was just a different kind of love, he's just glad that he gets to have Scott in his life still at all.

"I'm not telling him Brooke." Lane starts talking again firmly. "This is your choice, you don't want to commute, the long-distance drive. I understand that." He did in some distant way. "I'm done being your go between. I did that when you two were legally separated. I'm not doing that again. You have to be the one to tell he's your husband not mine. Contrary to what you want to believe you're the one still married to him."

"I can't, what if I upset him? What if he doesn't understand? I can't do that to him." Brooke states.

There's only a handful of times she'd seen her husband cry since he woke up and it was hard on her emotionally to see someone who was supposed to her rock just break down at the simplest of things now. She knew deep down that he couldn't help it. Not being able to control his emotions anymore because of the damage to his brain when he fell.

The role reversal was not something she was sure she could deal with at least not right now. It would be like having a sixth child. She'd joked about that before, but now that, that joke was slowly becoming a reality.

"Please you and I both know that's not true you've upset him plenty after he woke up. You're a mom, you've had five boys Scott's mental age before, I think you can find a way to tell him in a way he'd understand.

It needs to be you. You need to tell him. Tell him it's because you want to be closer to him while he's in rehab maybe that'll soften the blow. Maybe then he won't think the absolute worse and think you're leaving him for good."

Brooke's non-answer hurts Lane a lot. To have his friend have to go through this, and with his selective memory. He's choosing not to remember the bad times. He can't, he refuses too. He has the mind of a child of a six-year-old, Scott's neurologist said so on his last neurological exam last Friday. The mind of a child, Lane's words never rang more true than at Scott's first PT session with Wade. He didn't want to believe it that the man that was his partner, his friend, his confidant in all things Laurie was gone essentially. In his place the former shell of the man he used to be. Scott was a grown man with the mind of a child now, with all the mental capacity and comprehension of Lane's six-year-old son Caleb.

"Brooke if you can do one thing for me before you decide to just throw away all the years of marriage you had together with Scott, is go see him. Think about the good times you had with him. Think about how happy he is to see you every time you walk into a room, even if you rebuff him and don't want to spend as much time with him anymore. You have to see him for who he is. He is different now, but he's still Scott. Still the man you met in Afghanistan and fell in love with, still the father of your children. He loves you now can't that be enough? He loves you, just in a different way I know he does. If you can't accept that, there's only one other option for you."

Brooke doesn't say anything for a long while. "Okay."

"Okay? Okay, what?"

"Okay, I'll go see him. You're all right. You've all been right this whole time, I've just…I couldn't believe I was one of those wives that it was happening too. You know the saying you never think it will happen to you. Until it does. I've gone over the scenario over and over again, changing it each time, I never imagined it would end up like this."

Lane gives a small smile Brooke's way. "None of us did Brooke. I think you know what you need to do. I'm glad we could have this talk somewhat like the rational adults we are" Lane walks out of one of the hospitals' many quiet rooms and makes his way back to Scott's room on the fourth floor to see if he's up for a little outing, outside the hospital.

---

Lane and Havika had both advocated for Scott and Isaac respectively to have time outside of the hospital. Both men's' rehab teams had agreed it would be a good thing in both their patients' cases. Scott didn't react how Lane thought he initially would. He was happy to get out of the hospital after his therapy days or even in between therapy sessions. Like today, as long Lane told Scott's doctor where they were going and for how long they'd be gone and when they'd be back.

Even though Lane and Scott weren't leaving the post Lane still had to inform Scott's doctors. He didn't mind as long as Lane got him off the ward for an hour or two. It was a sense of normalcy for both of them or a new normal really as the doctors had told Lane to think of his and Scott's friendship now.

"Laney, Laney ice cream." Scott exclaims excitedly as he sees where Lane and he are walking over too.

"Yeah Scott ice cream it's pretty hot out today. I think we need a cool treat to cool down, don't you?"

"Yeah!" Well that was all the answer Lane needed. Scott had a serious sweet tooth even before the accident, and Lane knew ice cream was his go to sweet treat aside from malasadas.

The two friends walk into an almost empty ice cream parlor. It's before 11 am., on a Wednesday, so he's surprised when it's not packed. He's also thankful, Scott still is in the early stages of his recovery and still gets overstimulated easily in large crowds.

"Aloha, welcome to Leilani's Ice Cream Parlor. How can I help you gentlemen today?" A college age student asks.

"Do you want to look at the flavors they have, Scott or do you know what you want?" Lane asks, nudging his friend a little.

"Hmm." Scott puts his pointer finger near his bottom lip thinking. It's something he's started doing whenever he needs to think about something. Especially something with more than two choices.

"Take your time, no rush it's been a pretty slow day? How's your guys' day going?" The kid Keoni asks conversationally.

"Good so far, it's a real scorcher today. I feel like I'm gonna melt into my own sweat puddle."

"Yeah it's one of those days. It's why I love working here. Nice cool and air conditioned. Plus a discount on ice cream isn't so bad at all."

"Laney, I know what I want." Scott calls out over a few feet away looking at the third display case. Lane walks over to Scott and sees where he's pointing his right pointer finger.

Lane smiles, "Strawberry, and cotton candy huh? That's a new combination."

"Pretty colors and' taste good, please?" Scott asks politely. Knowing manners are important and Lane likes him to use them.

"Sure thing Scott, and I'll take a double scoop of Rocky Road and Chocolate Chip Cookie dough." Lane asks Keoni.

"Okay, and does your friend want double scoops too?"

"Yeah yeah double." Scott smiles big and wide. No Lane is not going to cave. Scott hasn't had lunch yet he doesn't want him spoiling his lunch. Or risk him throwing up.

"Scott no, you've haven't had lunch yet I'm not having you spoil your lunch if you eat too much now, you won't eat lunch."

"Laney…" Scott starts.

"No Scott it's one scoop each or no ice cream now at all." Lane says sternly.

"Okay Laney."

Five minutes later Lane and Scott have their ice cream in cups and Lane's getting ready to pay when Keoni stops him. "First one's free for new customers sir."

"Thank you." Lane says slowly in shock and surprise and puts his wallet back in his back pocket.

"Thank you." Scott says after a few minutes of Lane having said it, spoonful of cotton candy ice cream in his mouth.

"You're welcome enjoy." Keoni goes back to cleaning up behind the counter.

Lane and Scott sit at one of the tables in his center of the shop able to see all angles of the shop.

"Is that good ice cream Scott?" Lane asks as he watches him eat and make a mess of his face while he's eating.

Scott just smiles big teeth already starting to color blue and pink from the ice cream. "Yeah, thank you Lane."

"You're welcome Scott. What are you going to do in therapy with Wade today?"

"No running til I get my new leg. We work on lobstacle course he make."

Lobstacle course, oh he must mean obstacle course.

"Obstacle course huh, that sounds fun."

"Wade says it help with agity an' balance."

"Agility and balance." Lane corrects lightly. So Scott can hear the word spoken the right way.

"Uh huh that. You come watch?" Scott asks ice cream more or less finished now, but he's playing with the spoon in the bowl. He's fiddling with it he's nervous Lane realizes.

"You, you want me to come watch you in physical therapy?" Lane asks just to make sure.

Last time he'd seen Scott in his initial physical therapy session he'd blown up on the physical therapist and called him so not so nice names as well as his orderlies helping him. So this was big, Scott's first physical therapy session was five and half weeks ago. He's been having therapy three times a week for an hour. Those sessions are Scott's most intense therapy sessions, and Wade says the intensity, the way he treats his patients is how he was treated, and it works.

Lane heard from through the grapevine how intense Wade's PT sessions are for some new amputees, by new amputees he's seen around the ward. They all say he's the one you want if you have to go through such a thing, because Wade gets results and he just gets it. Lane doesn't know what they mean by that, but if Scott's happy and he's getting better, Lane's all for it.

Wade gets the amputees back to near perfect physical condition, gets them back to walking and later running. Then if they want he can refer them to a recreational physical therapist that'll help them get back to playing certain sports.

"Yes, Laney I race on Friday. You watch me practice today."

"Race?"

"Uh huh, Wade says com-com-pet-ition make us bett'r try harder."

"And you're okay with this?" Lane asks, eyebrows raised in scrutiny.

"Uh huh s'fun I like it. Wade makes work fun, hard but fun."

"Okay if you're sure?"

Scott nods his head. "I am Laney."

"Alright then, I'll come watch you."

"Awe-some." Scott exclaims with clear bright eyed joy.

"Alright let's get you cleaned up, and get back to rehab yeah."

"Oh-kay." Scott says as let's Lane wipe his mouth with a napkin to completely clean it knowing he's messy. The two men walk out of the ice cream shop and catch the shuttle that runs around post back to the hospital. After Lane drops Scott back off at his room on the rehab ward he tells him he's got to go back to his house for a little while but he'll be back in time for Scott's physical therapy session in an hour.

"Bye Lane see you later." Scott says as he's settled in his bed his prosthetic off and laying on the floor next to the armchair. He's got an I SPY book on his lap and is content to look through it, tongue sticking out the right side of his mouth in concentration. He doesn't even notice when Lane leaves his room to take care of some business back home with his kids pertaining to a certain shopping excursion he is not looking forward to.

Though he's a good ex-husband no matter how much he complains or gripes about Laurie he realizes how much she truly does for the kids and he's grateful honestly. Except now he has to do it, and do it all from start to finish. It's been years since he dreaded the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. He hadn't done that since he was his daughter Paige's age who is thirteen and going into her last year of middle school in five days. School starts in five days and he is woefully unprepared for once.

He'll tackle this just like he tackles any other mission in his life with SEAL precision, strategy and tactics. Yeah alright he's totally got this, what's the worst thing that could happen.

---

1500 Hours. Target Dept. Store. 4380 Lawehana St, Honolulu, HI 96818.

Isaac honestly is just glad to be out of the house, and out from under Imani's watchful eye. His wife he loves her to death. She's the mother of his two precious kids, and his whole world, but enough enough, she's been on him like a hawk ever since he got discharged from the hospital last Thursday with a full clean bill of health now. This was after he'd woken up two days prior and could feel everything below his waist. It was actually kind of embarrassing.

He'd woken up with an erection for the first time in five and half weeks, and his nurse, the female one that comes in to check his vitals, saw the tent from his engorged penis under the blanket. Isaac's never been so mortified in his life. Not even when his Ma caught exploring his body when he was just twelve years old. Too be fair he had left his room unlocked as per his dad's rules and they had just learned about the basics of sex end in his seventh-grade biology class.

Anyway doctor's gave him a few work ups after that morning, and then set to discharge him that Thursday afternoon which they did. Isaac had never been more relieved to be out of the hospital than he was at that moment. He'd gotten home that night to a 'Welcome Home' dinner with the team, including Scott and everyone enjoyed the fact that they were now one team member closer to the full unit again.

Havika was especially happy since Isaac's doctor fully cleared him medically with no restrictions whatsoever to go back to full duty. Isaac took his position of the elite team's unit chief the next day. Havika filled him in on the progress they'd made with Brian Cardoso's help, in a plan to raid and rescue the captive special operators from Rutherford's illegal fight club. Right now though, Isaac wasn't thinking about any of that, he was thinking about how slick and cunning his wife was and how he'd gotten roped into taking Savannah and Marcus back to school supply and clothes shopping.

"Man, I swear if I knew she wasn't related to me or any of my kin I'd say she had some Perry brand sneakiness in her."

"Isaac, you got roped into taking the kids shopping too?" Isaac turns around outside of the store to come face to face with Lane and his bouncing exuberant brood. "Laurie's having a girls' day with her friends, some spa thing. Plus, she changed the custody arrangement on me for this school year, just call me super dad. I'm doing it all."

"Welcome to fatherhood like the rest of us." Isaac says in a joking manner.

"So I've been out of practice for a while. I haven't done the whole back to school supply and clothes shopping since Julia was five and starting Kindergarten." Lane points out Isaac. "It's good to see you up and walking by the way."

"Thanks man it's good to be back and up and running. Well haven't run yet, but you get it." Isaac replies.

"Daddy! Can we go now?" Caleb asks with a whine.

"Sure bud." Lane says and puts a big smile on his face. Let's go get this over with. Lane thinks to himself. With that Lane takes his kids into Target, Isaac and his two kids Savannah and Marcus fall along as well.

---

Inside Target - Near the Back to School Section - 4380 Lawehana St, Honolulu, HI 96818.

"This...is...utter...madness." Lane grounds out as he sees kids running and screaming all over the several sections and aisles of school supplies. Big yellow banners proclaiming 'Back To School' hang above his head. Luckily it wasn't his kids doing all the running and screaming, yet.

No, they were all patiently waiting by his side. Elliott still holding his younger brother Caleb's hand and his fifth-grade supply list in his left hand. Julia and Paige were looking like sprinters at the start of a race just ready for their dad to give them the go ahead to go. The girls were old enough not to mention responsible enough to do their own school shopping. Julia at 8 was going into the third grade and Paige, 13 was going into her last year of middle school. Lane was kind of sad about that. She was growing up and wasn't his little girl anymore at least physically.

Julia however was little Ms. Attitude the last few days ever her mom had sprung the new custody arrangement on her and her siblings three days ago. She was 8 going on 18, now that scared him. He thought Paige was the one he was going to have to worry about, but no it was his sweet innocent little Jules who was way too smart and wise for her years. Much like another blond law enforcement member's daughter Lane knew. He just kept thinking this is just a phase this is just as phase it's the stress of the last few months, everything will blow over soon, once they get into a new 'Dad's in charge for a whole school year routine'. It was going to be an adjustment for them all. Except in Julia's case it was the opposite of how one Grace Williams was when she was Julia's age. Maybe he should get some advice from Danny and see if he had any tips.

"Danno, Danno look at all the cool school stuff." Lane hears a very familiar high pitched voice. Lane sees Charlie Williams running with his cousin Joanie McGarrett a few paces ahead of their Dad and Uncle respectively.

"Whoa there sport I see that it's all cool stuff." Danny says and he catches up with the two six year olds. Barely managing to not look his age and put his hands on his knees. He didn't know how energetic two six years olds could be. He's definitely finding out in the last month or so, since Mary showed up on the island with her daughter. Joanie and Charlie feed off of each other's enthusiastic energetic behaviors. Maybe this is how Scott felt when his twins David and Wyatt were this age.

"Need a medic there, Jersey?" Lane asks, grinning looking at the other blond man in a plain t-shirt, and light blue shorts and his favorite red Chucks.

Danny of course waves off the remark. "You're a real comedian aren't you Sullivan. I'm good just didn't know I'd be running through the store. You know how much I dislike running."

"We do indeed, Steve's told Scott and in turn he's told us about you." Isaac remarks in his own tan shorts and plain salmon colored pocket tee.

"I'm starting to think this wasn't a coincidence." Danny retorts after having caught his breath.

"What makes you say that?" Isaac asks the Jersey native.

"Look behind you." Danny offers seeing the tanned skinned Hawaiian figure of Havika Kamaka walking towards them all with two sullen looking pre-teens behind them.

"Well what a surprise seeing you guys all here." Havika exclaims and claps Lane on the back and then Isaac.

"We've been duped." Lane surmises dubiously. "I bet you 110% it was Laurie guys."

"Daddy Daddy can I go with Uncle Danny and Joanie and Charlie, please, please, I promise I'll be on my most bestest behavior." Caleb asks. Let's be honest it's what all the kids were thinking at seeing their friends without the influence of their older siblings around.

"If he gets to go explore with Charlie I want to go and look at stuff with Marcus." Elliot reasons hands on his hips, a questioning look in his eye.

"Only if it's alright with Uncle Isaac and Uncle Danny."

"It's fine with us." Both other men look at each other in confirmation.

"Alright then, go on. But be...good." Lane barely gets the last syllable out before both sets of boys are off like rockets in different directions of the school supply area. And suddenly Lane's left standing with an empty red Target shopping cart and no kids. "Wait, where'd Paige and Julia go?"

"Uh brah they left with Savannah to go look at supplies like five minutes ago." Havika says shaking his head at his friend. "Tino, Eke you two can go get the stuff on your lists and ONLY the stuff on your lists." Havika reminds his two youngest sons. He watches them walk off talking to themselves about the stuff they're going to get before turning to his shorter friend. "Come on, let's go buy you the biggest coffee they got in here, bruddah it looks like you gonna need it."

---

So Havika and Lane head over to the Starbucks which is near the other concession stand foodie place they have in Target. Lane no doubt knows he'll be buying his kids super uber buttery popcorn and little mini personal pizzas before they leave the store. For now he settles on the Venti black coffee Havika's just ordered him without even having to open his mouth.

Meanwhile in the college shop section of the store two teenagers are standing face to face in the aisle with the twin extra-long sheet sets. "I'm telling you Nani these sheets will look better with the interior color scheme of the room. Cheetah print is totally you." Jake tells his girlfriend.

"You think so?" Kanani asks doubtfully. She and Jake are here looking at bedding, and other dorm room essentials she'll need for UH. Since Jake can't carry any heavy stuff right now, Kanani's only getting the basic non-heavy essential stuff. The other stuff like lamps, mini fridge, microwave etc, she'll come back with her mom and dad and get, later.

"I know so. You can totally rock those bedsheets, and you can get a plain color too if you want, plus there are accent pillows you can add as well."

Jake's leaning backwards slightly on his crutches taking the weight of his injured leg. He's taken to wearing boardies and muscle tees recently easy to put on and take off over his cast. He honestly doesn't care how he looks right now, he's just happy to be out of the house. He and all of his brothers are. His house has turned into a field full of mines regarding his Mom. Even mentioning Dad, and or visiting him and she's making up every excuse in the book not to go. Plus sitting around the house with a broken leg sucks. He'd much rather be outside with friends or his girlfriend with a broken leg than be inside his house.

"Jake, you okay, babe?" Kanani asks looking at her boyfriends' far off look over at the other side of the sheet aisle.

"Huh oh yeah. I'm great. What about burgundy sheets? I think it would really bring out the color of the wood in the walls and shelving of your dorm."

Kanani raises an eyebrow. "Really?"

"What, so Tristan suckered me into watching some dorm decorating videos on YouTube lately. I'm bored out of my mind at home. I can't wait to get this thing." Jake gestures to his left legged cast. "Off my leg."

"I'll bet and it'll be just in time for you Dad's birthday too, and night surfing you know our tradition." Kanani reminds him.

"Can't wait..." Jake crutches over to Kanani closing the gap and kisses her lightly on the cheek.

"Ewww Jakey's making kissy kissy kissy face." Wyatt yells down the aisle as he runs by David his somewhat more mature brother running after him yelling, 'get back here."

"Wyatt you're lucky I can't run after your ass." Jake makes it to the end of the aisle just to see both his brothers disappear around the corner as he sees Cooper his other brother run past.

"Which way'd they go Jake? Oh hey Nani college dorm shopping that's cool. Man it's like wrangling monkeys, those two acting like Charlie and Joanie's age."

"Oh yeah fourteen going on six I can see it now." Jake remarks. "They went around the corner in the Bath and Home section by the way."

"Thanks." Cooper replies. "Nice seein' you Nani."

"You too Cooper." Once the other teen is out of ear shot Kanani speaks up. "Boy, am I glad I don't have little brothers. Seems like a real pain sometimes."

"Oh yeah you can say that again and it's like Mom's totally oblivious we could be having wild epic parties every night and she probably wouldn't even notice or care."

"Raising younger siblings isn't not all that uncommon when trauma or tragedy strikes a family."

"Huh, you sound like my Dad from before. He said Uncle Steve practically raised Mary and him, after Grandpa John shipped them all off to the mainland, even when Steve and Scott were an hour away from her."

"Must have been tough." Kanani doesn't really know what to say other than that. She can never imagine all of what Jake went through when he was a kid, or what his uncles and aunt went through.

"I just don't want us to have to go down that road. Mom's got to do something. Their marriage isn't working. Heck never really worked from the beginning sadly or at least from what I knew when I was old enough to figure out something was wrong."

I just hope Mom makes the right call and does what's right for all of us and Dad. I mean there is only one thing she can do."

"Hey Jake, want to help me pick out plastic storage bins and oh string lights? My friend Kiki totally says I have to have string lights in my dorm!"

"Sure that's what I'm here for right. Let's go!" Jake's thoughts are immediately full of different string light patterns and designs instead of thinking about his parents and their almost non- existent marriage now.

---

Two Hours Later - 1730 Hours. McGarrett-Williams Residence, Piikoi Street - Honolulu.

"Phew Charlie you wore Danno out shopping today. Say why don't you take those bags of clothes up to your room and put them away nicely okay. Then you can show Daddy all the cool new school supplies you got."

"Okay Danno." Charlie chimes still full of energy even though he was running around like, animal in the store with Joanie and Caleb Sullivan. Danny can't halt or thwart his sons' enthusiasm for learning. As long as they didn't destroy any store property Lane had said he didn't see a problem with letting the kids let off a little steam in the store.

Danny, Danny of course did it's not what civilized people did in stores, but then he had to remember his son, his cousin and friend were only six they had like zero impulse control.

"Super cool school supplies huh." Steve comments coming up behind his husband on the porch from the backyard side gate. "Sounds like someone had fun." Steve wraps his sweaty body around his husband.

"Mmhm he sure did, the little stinker had me running after both him, Joanie and Caleb."

"Caleb? Caleb Sullivan." Steve asks knowing the name.

"Yep the very one. Apparently, all us men folk got duped by the wives or ex-wives into taking the munchkins school shopping so they could all have a spa day, for Allison."

"That's nice." Steve says still having an octopus-like grip on Danny.

"It was. How's your secret special present coming along for Scott?"

"Good, I think he'll really like it. And it's portable, so when he wants to go back to his house permanently, he can take it with him."

"Sounds great. His birthday's only eighteen days away, has he told you or made any hints at what he wants to do?"

"No, not yet, but I'm sure if he doesn't say I've got something up my sleeve I think he'll enjoy and all guests in attendance will enjoy it as well."

"Star spangled man with a plan you are. Now get off me you smell like sawdust and sweat go shower." Danny lightly pushes his taller husband off of him. "I'll make sure dinner gets started. Is Grace coming over for dinner?"

"Ah no she texted me while I was in the garage she asked if she could stay over at Jake's for dinner."

"Course she can, just as long as she's back by curfew. She may be deferring college for a year, but I still want her home at a decent hour."

"Good because I already said yes she could." Steve smiles back and starts heading back into the house to do as he's told. Danny just shakes his head and smiles and turns to the Camaro to get the rest of Charlie's school supplies and new backpack out of the trunk.

---

The next month flies by for the NCIS team, and their loved ones especially for those that had kids. August brought on the start of the new school year for everyone except Jake McGarrett. Having been in a near fatal car accident with his best friend Grace over the summer left him with a tibia/fibula fracture and in a long-left leg neon green cast halfway up his thigh. After he got his first navy blue long leg cast wet, in the shower two weeks after having it on. His days were filled with visiting his dad on the rehab ward at Tripler, and hanging out with his girlfriend Kanani and their other friends. Having her drive him places or having his brothers Cooper or Tristan drive him places. His mom had told him to think about taking classes at UH at Manoa, or at Hawaii Pacific University, but it was already too late to register, honestly Jake didn't care.

Now don't get him wrong he knew an education was important, but what was the point really if he was just going to leave in four months. He'd only get a semester of college in his 'Freshman' year, and then go onto Navy boot camp. He'd think about college maybe later once he was maybe two or three years in. The military paid for college anyway, so it'd be better if he enlisted first and then decided to do online schooling or even do however many years he wanted and then get out than go to college. But right now honestly Jake was happy, where he was currently. It was the sixth of August and he had one more week of being in his annoying as hell cast before he can hopefully get it taken off next Friday.

---

0500 Hours. 6 August 2019 - Tues. McGarrett-Williams Residence, Piikoi Street, Honolulu.

Steve was up early like he always was, today was an extra special day today though. Today it was Charlie and Joanie's first day of first grade. For Joanie it would be her first day of first grade in a new state, and she'd be going to a private school, Leeward Academy with Charlie. All three McGarrett siblings, Mary, Steve and Scott had money given to them or had access to money their father left them after his untimely death. That's how Mary was paying for Joanie's tuition, tuition to go to one of the best private schools on the island. Mary just wanted what was best for her daughter, for her to have a better life and childhood than she had.

Plus she'd seen how well private school had gone for Grace Danny's oldest daughter and she thought it would be good for Joanie. If it was really something she didn't like after the end of elementary school, she'd let Joanie go to public school.

Steve gets up before his alarm can go off and shuts it off knowing Danny's own alarm clock will go off in about an hour's time. Steve swings his legs over the edge of the bed and gets up scratching his bare chest idly. Steve strips off his boxers and pulls a pair of boardies out from his drawer and slips them on. He walks over to Danny's side of the bed and gives him a kiss on his forehead to the other man's mutterings turning over.

Steve gives Danny one last glance before heading downstairs and out to the lanai and their private beach. He wades in about waist deep before he takes a deep breath and plunges under the water and comes back up a minute later. He feels different today, not unlike his other times when he goes for a swim. He floats on his back in the ocean. He's about several yards out from his backyard, he can just see the white wooden arondeck chairs in the distance.

He doesn't know how long he's just floating there thinking about well everything in his life before he hears the steadily louder and louder call of, "Uncle Steve."

Steve blinks the salt water out of his eyes and flips to his front and starts to swim back to shore.

---

0645 Hours. McGarrett-Williams Residence, 2727 Piikoi Street, Honolulu.

Steve comes walking out of the water towards the aronideck chairs and the striped white and green towel he lay there before he went in. The loud shouts had come from his niece Joanie.

Wait Mary and Joanie weren't supposed to show up until 0630.

Joanie's further up on the lanai by the glass doors now as Steve walks over from the sand. "Good Morning Uncle Steve." Joanie greets her Uncle.

"Morning sweetie, you and your Mom are here early huh excited." Steve says as he stands just outside of the glass doors on the lanai.

"No and yes. It's 6:45 Uncle Steve." Joanie replies all dressed in her new school uniform of a burgundy polo shirt with Leeward Academy's crest on her left breast side and plain gray shorts. She'd admittedly said to her Mommy she was not wearing the skort she didn't want to. She didn't like the skort. Luckily girls could wear either the skort or the shorts, in the warm weather.

"Oh guess I better start on breakfast huh." Steve says and dries off the best he can before following his niece back inside the towel around his neck.

"Uncle Danno's already started it, and Mommy's got the coffee going." Joanie informs her Uncle.

"Well alright than sweetie. I'll just go upstairs and shower really quick. You look really nice in your uniform Joanie."

Joanie's little cheeks turn red at the compliment. "Thank you, Uncle Steve."

Steve comes back downstairs in his usual work attire of tan cargo pants and an olive-green polo shirt, his empty holster on his waist along with his bandage on the left side.

Steve reaches the dining room where he can hear the animated voices of his niece and son talking about what their first days will be like.

"Pineapple coconut pancakes Danno. They're my favorite." Steve smells the coconut before he even enters the room fully.

"I know you goof, that's why I made them, and chocolate chip pancakes for the kids." Danny says as he places the last bits of breakfast foods on the table, fruit toppings, syrups etc. "Alright everyone dig in."

---

0730 Hours. Sullivan Residence - 91-1080 Waikapuna Street, Ewa Beach.

"Dad have you seen my new slippers you know the black floral ones." Paige asks as she comes down the stairs barefoot in light denim short shorts, and a PINK brand t-shirt. Her usual long blonde hair now in a short pixie cut and swept to the left side. Lane nearly had a mini stroke when he'd seen his oldest daughter walk out of the hair salon with short hair four days ago. He had to let her go, had to let her grow up a little bit. She'd at least asked first if she could cut her hair.

"By the front door Paige where your backpacks are lined up and lunch boxes and bags are in the fridge." Lane replies he's trying to get Caleb to sit still so he can do his hair. He swears his son is worse than Scott on a sugar high, but he knows he's just excited to start school again and see all his school friends. "Two more minutes bud, got to make sure you're stylin' looking handsome for your first day of first grade."

"Dad! We're going to be late if we don't leave now." Julia yells from the other side of the house.

Caleb looks back at his daddy who has his hands slick with gel in his hair. "Late! Daddy we can't be late." Caleb looks horrified at the very thought of being late. He's still young enough where punctuality or being on time to things is important to him.

"Whoa there easy Caleb we're not going to be late. Julia just wants to see her friends is all buddy."

"Me too Daddy." Caleb claims. "I want to see my friends too, Billy, Jonah, Kelani and Kai." They sounded like twins to Lane and they were names he hadn't heard of before maybe from summer camp or maybe while he was in Maui he met them with his mom.

"Alright, don't worry we'll make it. I'm super Dad. I can do anything, remember?" Right now Lane's silently cursing the Hawaiian school system and having the elementary and middle school start times within five minutes of each other.

He can already tell this is going to be a long school year. "Whoever wants to ride in the Mustang with me I'm heading out now."

"We do. We do." Elliot and Julia chime in from the kitchen at hearing their older brother Logan walk down the hall.

"Take the two problem kids off your hands, Dad. "Logan whispers as he passes his dad and squeezes his younger brothers' shoulder on the way to the fridge. Or the ones most likely to cause an issue for Dad on his first day. Logan thinks.

Lane just gives his oldest son a look of thanks. Logan's dressed in tie dye boardies and his old James Campbell High spirit day t-shirt. Black Oakley sunglasses perched on his head.

"Can you pick us up too?" Elliott asks his brother.

"Yeah can you Logan?" Julia asks puppy dogs perfectly placed on her brother.

"We'll see guys. I'm sure Dad has fun stuff for you planned after school. Let's wait and see yeah."

---

0742 Hours. Ewa Beach Elementary - 91-740 Papipi Rd, Ewa Beach, HI

"Alright we're here, on time to. See Daddy told you we'd make it." Lane tells Caleb as he looks into the back seat and watches Caleb climb out the car, his Spider-Man backpack already on his back. Extra bag of school supplies for his teacher in his left hand.

"I love you Daddy." Caleb says as he leans back in and first towards his Daddy in the drivers' seat and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

"I love you too son, have a fantastic first day of first grade okay."

"Uh huh I will. Bye Daddy." Caleb climbs out of the car in the carpool drop off lane, and shuts the door behind him.

Lane wipes a lone tear from his left eye before Paige can see it, who's still in the car with him. He looks up into the rearview mirror at his daughter. "Middle school express putting out the station." Lane exclaims.

"Dad!" Paige cries out embarrassed and tries to hide further into the leather seat of the car.

"Hop up front and let's go." Paige does and then her dad puts the car in drive and heads off towards the middle school.

---

0747 Hours. Ewa Makai Middle School - 91-6291 Kapolei Pkwy, Ewa Beach, HI

"Made it just in time huh Sullivan?" Isaac asks as Lane's passenger window of his car is rolled down. "Hi Paige, Savannah's waiting for you."

"Hi Uncle Isaac thanks."

"Come on Paige. Homeroom starts in 3 minutes." Savannah Perry calls out to her best friend her black hair braided in cornrows courtesy of her Mom's friend who owns a salon.

"Bye Dad, I love you." Paige is already out of the car before Lane can even get a reply out. Isaac sees his friend's drooped kicked puppy looking face.

"Hey man don't worry about it. She knows you love her."

"Yeah." Lane says slowly. We'll all the kids are off to school and on time barely. At least that's a win. He thinks. A car horn honks behind Lane and he has a strong urge to flip'em the finger, but he really doesn't want to get into it with middle school parents on the first day of school.

"I'll pick up breakfast on the way to work." Isaac offers. "As I'm sure your ass hasn't had anything to eat yet."

"Loco Moco?" Lane asks. The car honks again. "Alright jeez. And malasadas." He adds.

"You got it Agent, now get goin' you're holdin' up the line." Isaac waves to his friend and jogs out to his own vehicle in the drop off loop.

---

Early Afternoon - 1405 Hours. Ewa Beach Elementary - 91-740 Papipi Rd, Ewa Beach, HI

Caleb comes running out of the side gate of the school with a hoard of other kids. As he gets closer Lane can see a sticker on his son's Spider-Man t-shirt proudly proclaiming 'I Survived First Grade'. Lane smiles as Caleb opens up the back-right side passenger door, and flings his backpack in. His older sister Paige is already in the front seat.

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! You got homework." Caleb informs his Daddy proud of himself for remembering.

"Oh I do well you can show me it at home alright. Where are your sister and brother?" Lane notices his older two elementary schoolers aren't in sight yet. And know they aren't supposed to let Caleb run off without them. It's a family rule.

"Coming." Caleb simply replies rummaging in his backpack for something. Lane looks past his oldest daughter in the front passenger seat and does indeed now see his other two middle children walking at a more sedate pace over to the car.

"How were your guys' days? Make any new friends? Do I have "homework" from your teachers as well?" Lane makes air quotes around homework.

"Good and no." Elliott replies. He notices Julia is unusually quiet. He'll talk to her later. "Marcus and I want to join the intramural basketball team, I've got a permission slip and everything."

"That's a lot of back and forth running Elliott." Lane starts the car as he talks to his son heading for home.

"Dad..." Elliott whines. Sometimes he really doesn't like that he has a heart that beats irregularly. That's basically what the big long medical term for his heart means. It makes playing sports hard sometimes, but he heard his doctor's tell both his mom and dad after his last surgery two years ago he'd be able to play sports and run around just like a normal kid his age now. That's all he wants to be is just normal.

"I know...I know Elliott. I'm just checking."

"Uncle Isaac'll probably let Marcus play and he has asthma that's way worse for running around on a basketball court." Elliott reasons with his Dad.

"We'll see okay Elliott. And if I do say yes I'm talking to whoever's in charge of this intramural team first got it?"

"Yes Dad."

"Good now who wants a first day after school treat?" Lane asks from the driver's seat. The resounding yes, me's he gets is almost deafening.

This, this right here is why he's totally okay with Laurie changing the custody arrangement on him. All the other stuff is small stuff, he's not going to sweat as Havika told him the night before when he called the other man asking for last minute advice, after having called Scott on autopilot, and forgetting his friend was most likely asleep already at Tripler.

---

6 Hours Later - 2010 Hours. Sullivan Residence - Logan's Room, 91-1080 Waikapuna Street.

Logan's just chilling in his room about to start a new Netflix movie Tristan told him about when there's a knock at his door. It could be anyone of his younger siblings, except Caleb who by a quick glance at his watch should be asleep in bed by now. His older younger siblings, Elliot, Paige and Julia had learned to knock before entering his room. His dad also knocked, but if he didn't answer right away he came in anyway.

Which is what happened when he decided to test the theory. His siblings probably had better things to do with their free time before bed than to bug him. Logan closes his laptop and sets it aside as he watches his Dad peek his head in around his door.

"Come in. I'm not doing much, what's up?" Logan asks casually. He watches his dad take up a seat on his desk chair across from his bed, backwards and swivel around once before facing him.

"8:10 pm and Caleb's already out like a light."

"He is? Hmm I'm not surprised the kid was full of energy and nonstop since he came home. Are you heading out?"

Lane nods his head slowly. "I don't have too though. It's just a review for Isaac about the case and what he's missed. The others can handle it if you want me to stay."

Logan sits up on his bed straighter running a hand through his short blond spiky hair. "Dad..." Logan says in an almost exacerbated tone. "I'm fine I've been taking care of and looking after the kids' for a night since I was sixteen remember I know the routine."

"I know you do Logan it's just..."

"I know Dad, it's the first night and you haven't done this in a while. I promise I'll be fine, if the terrible trio decide to act stupid. I'll just threaten to take away their electronics."

Lane levels his oldest child with a look about the nickname and inferring his middle kids will do something 'stupid.' "That'll work with Eli and Paige." Lane smiles after a minute. "I shouldn't be gone more than two hours, two and a half at most if I'm not back by 10:45 pm call your Uncle Havi he'll get my butt up and moving."

Logan chuckles at that. "I'm sure he will." Logan watches his dad get up and head to his door to leave. "I love you Dad. Stay safe out there."

"Always Logan. Love you 3..."

"6...5..." Logan watches his dad leave shutting his bedroom door behind him. "Now let's see what this 6 Underground movie is all about?" Well it's got Ryan Reynolds in it and he's always a character. Logan readjusts his position on his bed to get comfortable and then hits play.

---

0900 Hours. 16 August 2019 - Friday. TAMC - Pediatric Surgery Clinic, Floor 2A - Moanalua, Oahu.

Jake is sitting in an exam room on the exam table with his mom, who actually took a later shift to be here with him. She really doesn't need to be here, Jake's fine he could have had Cooper or Kanani or any number of people drive him. Than his mom brought up that even though he is eighteen in the eyes of the hospital he's not an adult in terms of making his own medical decisions just like Tristan isn't either. Even though his brother is a year older than him. No in the state of Hawaii at Tripler an adult is twenty years old unless one has a chronic childhood condition or disorder and has to keep seeing their pediatric doctor for whatever reason. Like cancer for example that usually happens in childhood and there are kids or rather young adults who are 21 22 years old being treated for cancer up on the oncology ward.

So that's the reason why he's here with his mom instead of a friend or one of his brothers. He's simply not old enough in the eyes of the hospital. Which is fine by him, his mom could tell his doctor whatever, but it was still his choice in terms of what happens next.

Jake's been on his phone the whole time texting Kanani since his appointment started twenty minutes ago. Dr. Reynolds had come in, greeted his mom and him, and then set about getting x-rays of Jake's leg. Now Jake and his mom were just waiting for Dr. Reynolds to come back with the results.

Kanani: Any news yet?

- 9:01 AM

Jake: Nope

- 9:02 AM

Kanani: celebrate surf sessish if good.

- 9:04 AM

Jake: I'm down sufferin' major wave withdrawals somethin' bad

- 9:05 AM

Kanani: I'll have the guys on standby luv u

- 9:06 AM

Jake: Luv u too 😘😘😍

- 9:07 AM

Just as Jake is about to switch to a group text between him and his brothers, there's a knock on the door and in walks Dr. Reynolds with a thin film chart in his hands.

"Well Jake I've got good news and bad news." Dr. Reynolds says. "Which one do you want to hear first?"

"Bad news." Jake replies the same time his mom says "Good news." Jake doesn't know what he'll do if he has to wear this cast another two or three weeks. It'll ruin the rest of his month. His Dad's surprise birthday bash is tomorrow, and Jake's kind of got to be ambulatory to actively participate. And not only that he's supposed to be helping Kanani move into her dorm next Friday on the 23rd. He can't exactly be much help if he's on his crutches and he doesn't want his girlfriend's dad to have to do everything. Not that Mr. Kekona would mind, he sees Jake as Ohana anyway and not just as his daughter's girlfriend. Mr. Kekona knows Jake is a good hardworking boy. Plus he can't drive right now, there's a whole host of things he can't do while stuck in this stupid cast, and then stops that train of thought.

Here he is complaining about having to possibly be in a fiberglass cast for a few more weeks. At least if the cast comes off he's still got his left leg. His dad doesn't have his right leg anymore, he's had to learn how to walk again with a prosthetic and how to do things differently because of the fact he's now an amputee. His dad wouldn't want him complaining about such things. His dad is the strongest person he knows, if he can make it through what he's having to go through, Jake can deal with a cast for a few more weeks if he has too.

"Jake, did you hear Dr. Reynolds?" His mom asks him.

"Umm no sorry sir I was just thinking lost in thought."

"It's okay Jake. As I was saying the bad news is I can't get you into outpatient PT until Wednesday next week. The good news is you get cast off today! Only restrictions you have are still no driving for about two weeks until we can build up your muscle tone in PT."

"What about surfing? Can I surf?" Jake asks hopefully. He's just been itching to get back on his board. He sucks just watching Kanani and all their friends out there in the water.

Brooke gives her son a wary look like that's the last thing he should be thinking about doing.

"I don't see why not. As long as you can stand on your own two feet once the cast is off, I see no trouble in letting you surf today. Just don't overdo it, okay."

"Yes, you rock Dr. Reynolds. You don't know what this means to me."

Jacob, I don't think you should go surfing. It can wait a few more months." Brooke suggests.

"Mom, no my doctor just said I could. I bet he sees hundreds of cases like mine. He knows what he's doing and I trust him."

Jacob I'm your mother and I'm telling you no." Brooke says a bit more forcefully."

"I'm eighteen I don't have to do what you say anymore mom. And as soon as this cast is off I'm calling Cooper to come pick me up and my friends and I are going surfing."

Brooke is absolutely floored by her son, and what he's just told her. She knows he's right, but she wants to get back some control at least. "Jacob Dean..."

"No mom, end of discussion. If Dad were here he'd let me surf." The kids all on their own have found out what a sore spot talking about their dad is in front of their mom.

So they've been using him as leverage of sorts. Do they feel bad, not really because they know it's true. If his dad were able to walk down here right now and be here he'd let Jake go surfing, because he knows what it's like to be cooped up inside in casts, and not be able to do what you want.

"If I may Major it really is quite medically sound to let your son go out and have a little fun. If he were my son. I'd let him." Surprisingly there's no backlash from his mom about 'well he's not your son, is he? Like Jake thought there would be.

"Okay son if it'll make you happy."

It would mom it really would, plus Gracie just this new board a few weeks ago."

"Gracie wouldn't be Grace Williams, would she?"

"Uh yes Dr." Jake answers. "She broke her right arm in the car crash with me."

Dr. Reynolds gets a conspirator look in his eyes. "I'm not supposed to tell you about other patients, but my colleague saw Grace Williams an hour ago to her cast off."

"Awesome, now we really can all go. Bring out the mini saw Dr. Reynolds and let's do this thing." Jake's fully pumped up and stoked now at the prospect of surfing with Grace, Kanani, Will and their other friends.

Sort of perfect way to end their summer, even though their siblings have already started school. Sometimes being older really rocks.

Fifteen minutes later Jake is walking out of his doctor's office with a picture of the cut cast off his leg on his phone. He's all smiles as he parts ways with his mom in the elevator and heads up to the fourth floor to show his dad the good news.

---

1500 Hours. 17 August 2019 - Saturday. Hickham Bowling Center - Luke Dr Bldg. 1891

Scott's party at the bowling alley is a huge hit. Most of all with the man of honor himself. His face when he sees where they were headed is priceless and Steve's glad he let Danny drive this once so he could take a picture of his brothers' reaction. And now it's saved for posterity in a photo album on his phone titled "Scott's 41st Birthday. Scott's party is in full swing only two hours in and everyone split up into teams of four. Or rather groups of four for bowling because nobody in Scott's circle of friends group was competitive at all.

There are thirty lanes at the bowling alley and the large group for Scott's birthday bash is taking up nine of those thirty lanes. All the kids are split up into groups with at least one responsible older party goer to forestall any fights about cheating.

Seems Danny's group should have had one of those aforementioned responsible persons. "You've got to be kidding me!" Danny crows as he watches his husband bowl another perfect strike.

"Nice one boss show up your brother on his birthday." Tani says in jest.

"I am not." Steve remarks as he walks back to the seats so Tani can take her turn.

"He's actually not Tani, from the noise a few lanes over I think Mary and Scott are dominating the lanes." Junior observes casually.

"If you bowl a perfect score you're sleeping on the couch tonight babe." Danny threatens. Steve bumps his elbow with Danny in light retaliation.

"You don't mean that Danno."

"Oh you can bet I do."

"Your turn Junes. I'm going to get us some more drinks. Root beer?" Tani asks her friend.

"That's good with me." Junior replies as he walks up to the bowl retrieval system grabbing his bowling ball.

Danny's group ends up with Tani as the overall winner even with Steve indeed bowling a perfect game for the first round. Steve's not happy about having to sleep on the couch tonight, but the look of utter shock on Danny's face is worth it.

---

Two hours later - 1700 Hours. Hickham Bowling Center - Luke Dr Bldg. 1891

5 o'clock and the group's bowling time is over, which also means they've got a hoard of hungry kids to feed. Including sixteen teenagers. Half of which are teenage boys, and everyone knows how much teenage boys can eat. Good thing is the bowling alley supplies all the food. The large group of adults and kids have the large party room for two hours to themselves, where dinner, cake and presents will be consumed and opened. The room itself is all decorated in a Navy SEAL theme, for Scott's birthday. Steve's idea to remind his brother of who is and where he's come from.

"Tonight's dinner menu courtesy of the staff, five different pizzas, two different salads, wings, onion rings, and two different types of French fries." Steve announces like an MC at a party.

There's pepperoni, cheese, Hawaiian, BBQ chicken, and veggie pizzas to choose from. Danny steers clear of the Hawaiian pizza, and starts off with two slices of pepperoni and half a dozen honey bbq wings.

"This is pretty good pizza for you know it being a bowling alley and all." Danny comments next to Steve. Who has two pieces of Hawaiian pizza, a salad and wings. All the adults are interspersed between the kids. So that way if someone needs help with something they can have an adult or older sibling on hand.

"I told you you'd like it." Steve says as he swallows a bite of pizza. Steve looks across the table and diagonally and sees his brother happily eating and talking to one of his teammates, Jackson. Both men eating bbq chicken pizza from the looks of it.

He hasn't seen his brother this carefree and relaxed in a long time, probably since the summer started. Steve thinks back to when this NCIS fight club case started back in early May. It's now the second week of August. Scott's had a lot of things or interruptions impeding his happiness since then. Scott glances over to his left and he sees Mary animated talking to Tani and Allison about something he can't quite hear.

Steve's content where he is just watching eating and occasionally laughing at something stupid Danny says in remarks to Junior. Tani and Junior were neck and neck in their second game, they almost tied. Everyone around their long table, that is decorated in plastic camouflage tablecloth and birthday party hats at every seat is happy. Enjoying celebrating the birthday of a man who means a lot and has a different relationship with everyone in this room.

Of course, as everyone is enjoying themselves, something has to come up or rather someone has to ruin the fun. Doris McGarrett comes walking into the room dressed in a simple blue blouse and tan pants.

"I heard somebody's having a birthday party today." Doris announces making herself known to the room. Everyone stops talking. It's so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Even Charlie, Caleb, and Joanie are quiet following the example of well everyone else. Though they don't know why, it's suddenly gone quiet. Something to do with the blonde haired older woman, Joanie somewhat recognizes.

"Grandma?" Joanie speaks up confused. Her little voice heard loud and clear in quiet din of the room.

"Yes sweetie it's me your Gran-" Doris starts but her daughter's voice cuts her off.

"Joanie don't move." Mary warns sternly like she's a frightened deer in front of a huge bear, and not standing up now, a few feet away from her own mother.

"Doris what are you doing here?" Yes Steve still calls his mom Doris, all three of them still do. Very rarely have they ever called her Mom. Except when introducing her to certain people. 'This is Doris...my or our mom.'

"I came to see my son, Steven. His birthday is in two days." Doris replies to her oldest son.

Danny whose right next to Steve can feel the rising anger and tension build in his husband. He puts what he hopes is a calming hand on his left shoulder, pressing ever so slightly.

"Doris, can we talk to you in private for a moment." Steve says and both he and Mary get up from their seats. Steve looks back at his brother who is just staring wide eyed eyes, unmoving at the woman at the entrance of the room. Who knows what's going through his head right now.

Doris to her credit just follows her oldest and youngest adult children out of the room hand clutching her medium sized purse.

---

Once safely out of earshot of the room Mary surprisingly is the first one to speak. "What are you doing here Doris?"

"As I told Steven Mary Ann I'm here to see Scott his birthday is in two days." Doris crossed her arms over her chest.

"We're aware of the date." Steve tells his mom.

"Are you aware of all of what's been going on? What he's been through? What we've been through?" Mary asks, already getting defensive. It's like the only time their mom showed up on the island was when she either wanted something from Steve or she wanted to check up on Scott whenever he was hurt bad enough to land himself in the hospital. That she was just doing it because she was their mother.

She's missed the last six years of birthdays since she first showed up again on the island revealed herself as being alive. That's six years of not just her own adult children's birthday's, but her grandson's birthdays as well, and her adopted granddaughter Joanie's birthdays. Not to mention normal family gatherings, ie. Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just family dinners on Sundays, a time to reconnect and catch up usually.

The McGarrett's though they were anything but normal, with a dead dad of now almost nine years, and ex-CIA agent for a mother. Those family dynamics didn't exactly make for normal family occasions and get togethers. It had taken Mary herself ten years to contact either one of her brothers. She'd joked about having a family picnic or something in between funerals. That was back when Dad had only been dead for three years at that point.

"I am Mary Ann, that's why I'm here not just for his birthday. I...I want to see him."

"Sorry to burst your Mom bubble, but we don't even know if he'll want to see you, even with his alternated mental state. In fact I'm pretty sure the last time you saw and this wasn't the drugs talking he said and I quote "I don't want you anywhere near me or my kids again, I want you out of our lives. Gone forever I'm fine now no thanks to you get out NOW. unquote."

Doris takes it when she remembers her middle child telling her five years ago in that ICU room a week after his kidney transplant. It hurt a lot to hear her son say that than, and it hurt just that much more to Steve remind her of what Scott had said.

"Is he going to be okay?" Doris asks instead.

"He will be in time. He'll learn to adapt and deal with his new challenges." Steve informs his mom.

"We'll be there to help him every step of way, like we have been since this all went down." Mary added standing firm by her older brother.

"If that's what he wants, still wants I'll go. For what it's worth though I'm sorry for all I put you three through. For what I put Scott's son's through." Doris replies, sounding truly remorseful. Doris turns around and begins to walk back towards the entrance of the bowling alley.

---

Meanwhile inside the party room. Lane is trying to get Scott to calm down. "Come on Scott sit down please. Seeing her isn't going to do you any good."

"No, dang it Lane, I'm going to see her. She's my mom, man." Scott levels his friend with a look he can't back down from.

"Fine I'm coming with though."

"Umm everyone kids why don't you go play in the arcade for a while." Havika suggests and nods to several of the older kids in attendance to mind the younger ones. Havika pulls a large money clip out of his back pocket and hands several bills over to Kale, Tommy, Grace, and Tristan. Divide and conquer in a time like this.

"Awesome."

"Yes!"

"Alright!"

Are the various excited replies from the preteens and younger kids in attendance. Lane and Scott walk out of the room past the kids leaving their friends and ohana behind.

---

Steve hears the two footfalls before he sees them. One more unsteady than the other Scott, and Lane.

"Mom! Wait!" Scott calls out to his mom. Steve thinks that there should've been a 'don't go' attached to that.

Doris turns around and is met with her second oldest son speed walking as fast as his temporary prosthetic will take him towards her. If Mary weren't standing in a public place such as a decently occupied bowling alley, she would squeal at the cuteness of what happens.

Scott finally reaches their mom several feet away and he hugs flat out, wraps his arms around her and hugs her. At first Doris is shocked and then remembers her son's heightened emotional state. It probably took him this long to process the fact that she was here. Doris wraps her arms too around her son and hugs him back.

"I'm sorry Mom. So sorry. Shouldn'a..."

"Shhh honey it's okay. I'm here. All is already forgiven." Doris whispers into her son's ear.

Scott hiccups and chokes back the rest of his tears. This is not what he wanted right now. He couldn't even say what he wanted, no needed to say without a breakdown. Scott pulls back and steps back away from his mom carefully mindful of his prosthetic. "I love you, Mom."

Doris hasn't heard those words from her son since he was eight years old and he had his first epic wipeout out his surfboard. She'd been the one to hold his hand in the ER, when he had to get stitches in his forehead from the gash he got from hitting that rock in the water.

"I..." Doris starts and then closes her mouth again.

Scott looks at his mom, his eyes red rimmed and watery with tears. "I know...it's the uh my head injury..." Scott finally gets out pointing to his face and the tears. Like his TBI explains away the sudden wave of emotion he feels. Like the past twenty something years were all a lie and they can go back to being a happy family finally. He knows that'll never happen. No matter how many times he wants it to be true. After she left the first time back when he was a kid, after she left the hospital five years ago, all he ever wanted was for her to come back. Doris'll leave again though, and neither he, Steve, or Mary'll know when she'll come back if she ever will. It's just who she is. Will this be the last time he sees her?

"Well I better let you get back to your party Scott. I hope you enjoy it. Happy early birthday son." Doris pulls out several one envelopes and one blue birthday card sized envelope. She pushes the envelopes into his hand and uses her fingers to wrap his own around the envelopes. With that Doris walks away again, and walks out of the sliding glass doors of the bowling alley.

He's shaking all of a sudden and feels like his knees are going to buckle. Give way. Steve, Mary and Lane are by his side in an instant.

"Easy there bro we got'cha." Mary replies holding up her brother's left side while Lane has his right, considerably weaker side. Steve plucks the envelopes except the blue one out his brother's hands puts them in cargo pants pocket.

"Come on you let's get you sitting down before you fall down in front of all these nice bowling goers huh." Lane tries for humor as he leads his partner with his sister back to the party room which is empty now. Seems all the other adults have gone to the arcade or the bar.

Mary and Lane sit Scott down in one of the nearest chairs. "I'm going to go find Danny be right back." Steve tells the trio.

"You okay bro?" Mary asks her older brother.

"I'm good Mary." Scott replies slowly, still reeling and trying to get his brain to process what the hell just happened. Scott turns to his right in his chair to Lane. "I'm fine really mother hen I promise. This is 's'posed to be a party right where's everybody." Lane still looks worried about his friend and his current state.

"Kids are all in the arcade. Adults are split up between the snack stand and there." Mary supplies.

"Well tell'im all to come back it's cake and present time. We still got uh...Lane little help here?" Scott holds up his watch.

"Forty-five minutes." Lane replies.

"Forty-five minutes, right that much time for cake, presents and gettin' all the leftovers taken care of." Scott says. Lane knows this is Scott's classic avoidance routine and he doesn't want to push his friend especially here, and now in public he'd hate to push an emotional overload and a seizure to be the result of said overload. So he lets it be for now.

"If it's what you want Scott." Lane states.

"It is I don't want to ruin the kids' fun plus I may have seen this game in the arcade I want to try." Scott smiles over at Lane with a huge grin on his face.

"Okay fine birthday boy knew I shouldn't have bought the card with the birthday boy pin in it." Lane grumbles good naturedly looking a bright blue circular pin on his friend's chest proclaiming 'BIRTHDAY BOY!'

"Aww you know you love me...it I mean it. You love it. Let's go let's go what're we sitting around here for let's go Mary before the buzzkill police arrive."

"Buzzkill police really Scott." Danny's voice drawls from the entrance.

"Jersey hey drat he caught us Laney."

"Okay who spiked the punch anyway cuz' he sounds drunk to me." Steve asks all of a sudden worried about his brother's increased slurred speech.

"Has he been drinking a lot needing to pee a lot?" Lane suddenly asks.

"Yeah, not that I watch those sorts of things with my brother but yeah. He's been peeing like a racehorse."

"Uh guys. I think I found the culprit." Danny says as he holds up a half eaten bag of assorted candies that were meant to go in the goodie bags after the party.

"Scott dude are you trying to put yourself in a coma, I told you once I couldn't do that again." Lane exclaims in mock seriousness shaking his head at his friends' antics.

"Here drink this...it'll replenish your electrolytes and keep you hydrated." Danny produces a bottle of Gatorade, the sports bottle kind with the twisty top and gives it to Scott.

Scott squirts two big streams of purple grape Gatorade into his mouth, and grins at his siblings, Danny and Lane. "What am I going to do with you..." Lane face palms and drags his hand over his face. "You're lucky your birthday is in two days."

---

1100 Hours. 23 August 2019 Friday Move In Day University of Hawaii at Manoa - Honolulu.

Four days after his dad's birthday party at the bowling alley and seeing his Grandma however brief Jake still doesn't know what to make of the whole scenario.

"Well Nani I'd say your dorm is looking pretty chic, see I told those sheets would look boss." Jake exclaims to his girlfriend.

"Your boyfriend's right sis." A muscular 6'2 Polynesian man in his early twenties says. He's wearing a green muscle tee while another young man who looks identical too him is wearing a blue muscle tee.

"Hani." Kanani whines embarrassed at her older twin brother.

"It does look good Kanani." The green muscle tee wearing Polynesian young man agrees.

"Kalino you're not supposed to agree with him." Kanani has her head in her hands sitting on her newly made extra -long twin bed.

"What sis we agree on everything we're twins." Hani shrugs his broad shoulders showing off his tribal tattoos.

"Except on where to eat lunch boys." an older Hawaiian woman stands in the doorway of the dorm with an older looking version of the twin men.

"I think I know where we can go?" Jake casually offers getting up from Kanani's desk chair.

"Where?" The Kekona family asks the young man.

Jake smiles and is already pulling up the menu on his phone. "Have you ever had old school Italian food?"

"No, little dude we live on an island brah. We've got pretty much everything but Italian." Hani wraps a big meaty arm around the shorter teen's neck in a friendly manner.

"Does ham and pineapple pizza count?" Kalino asks.

Jake shakes his head in dismay, maybe he has been on the island too long. "Oh boy are you all in for a treat." He quickly sends a text to the host to save a table for six. He gets a confirmation text back saying the table'll be ready in twenty.

Lunch at Kamekona's Italian Bistro is a nice way to end Kanani's Move In day. Plus Jake scored extra awesome boyfriend points when he one, paid for the entire meal and two introduced Kanani, her parents, and brothers to the fine cuisine of Italy, courtesy of the brain of one Daniel D. Williams.

So thanks Uncle Danny for having a dream and for putting up with Uncle Steve through the whole process and the opening. Still think Steve's or even McDanno's would have been a better name though. Jake thinks to himself as he heads back to UH with Kanani and her brother's to put the last finishing touches on her dorm.

---

The NCIS team has been working nonstop for the last two weeks getting the final details down for the raid. With the help of the new colleagues Evan and Brianna made while in Chicago handing off Calvin McManis, that's an additional four people, another CRT component. That should for sure be enough to make up for Scott not being able to participate in this particular raid. The Chicago CRT had gotten permission from their boss Christopher Novak who is the unit chief for the MCRT over in Great Lakes to come down and lend a hand. Plus their unit sort of had a vested interest in the outcome now, wanting to see this terrorist Rutherford put in the ground for good. They'd flown in a week ago, and took a day to get acclimated to the time change and just how different things were run on the island.

For one Chicago special agent it was like coming home, well actually he was coming home. Team leader of the Chicago CRT Mason McBride was born on the island in the state's capital of Honolulu. He was here for work though not for pleasure. He had to call his parents of course. He knew he'd catch hell if he didn't. Mason checked in with them after he and his three teammates got off the plane.

His mother had insisted they stay with her and her husband, but Mason gently told his mom that his boss had already paid for accommodations off base. After he promised he would stay a few days after he was done helping with this case his mother was much happier with her only son. As she put it 'your sisters don't come visit often enough with their grandkids.

Their unit chief had talked to their SAC of Great Lakes and had gotten them two rooms for pretty cheap with government discount at the Hilton Waikiki Beach. It was only twelve miles for JB Pearl Harbor-Hickham, which was perfect, it was only a twenty-minute drive at best.

---

2045 Hours. September 15 2019 - Sunday - Iolani Palace - Five-0 Headquarters, Honolulu.

6hrs:49mins remaining

Danny didn't like coming into work on a Sunday on a good day. If he could even count coming into work, in their line of work good on the weekends period. At least this time he got to spend the day with his kids along with Steve doing whatever Grace and Charlie wanted. It made him feel slightly less bad about what he was going to be involved in, in the next six and half hours, what was going to go down. He was going to go catch the bad guys that were hurting people like Daddy (Steve) and Uncle Scott, as Charlie put it. That is if Danny didn't throttle his husband first, and get himself benched.

Both Danny and Steve had just come from the house and tucking Charlie in about forty minutes ago. Leaving him in his sister's capable hands, also Mary was there with Joanie for moral support for Grace. While Charlie didn't know the full extent of what was going on, what exactly his Daddy and Danno were doing, Grace did. She was eighteen, she knew what a raid was and how dangerous they could be. She's glad her Aunt Mary is there to help ease her worries of both her fathers. Danny's also extremely glad that Grace has her Aunt Mary here too, to soothe her qualms aside from her mother Rachel. Rachel was a whole other story, that he wasn't focused on right now. Right now his 'mission' as it were was find his idiotic nincompoop, Neanderthal animal of a husband.

Danny and Tani ambush Steve on his way to the men's room. Danny even blocked the door arms crossed over his chest.

"Hey?" Steve exclaims at Danny blocking the door. "Can't a guy take a leak before you two gang up on me?" Steve already knew what Danny and Tani were after him for. It had to be this way, he just had to make Danny and Tani see that.

"No Steven." Danny growls behind his teeth. Steve tries to push past the shorter man. He doesn't budge.

"How could you do this boss?" Tani asks trying not to look as hurt as she feels on the inside.

"We had to Tani."

Danny starts waving his hands about. "Had to? Had to Steven?" There goes his full name again. Steve'll be lucky if he's just sleeping on the couch for a month after this and not something worse. "What you had to do was tell your teammates, tell me you were going to do something so stupid and idiotic again. We have seen what this guy can do, remember, what he's done."

"I know Daniel this is why it has to be like this. Rutherford wants a McGarrett, he wants me, he couldn't get to Scott. I'm the only one left."

"What about Junior?" Tani asks. Over the year they've known each other and they've started getting closer. She can't lose one of her best friends. Steve's bladder is about to explode.

"I am thinking of Junior Tani, trust me. He's a grown man who can make his own decisions."

"Oh really like he did when he decided to go with you to go rescue Joe from Nigeria. God rest his soul may he rest in peace." Danny says a bit angrily while making a cross over his chest.

"Yes Danny just like that time. This isn't just about us being SEALs. Even though we were SEALs long before either of us became law enforcement."

"I don't understand why it can't be either of those two other Chicago NCIS agents this is their whole operation anyhow we're just backup." I am your backup Danny thinks. Always and forever.

"Actually Danny it's Isaac and Havika's op if you want to get technical it's actually SAC Blackburn who's green lighting this whole op so we can catch this sonofabitch and shut down his international criminal syndicate." Steve makes an emphasis on international.

"Don't say it, Steve." Danny warns holding a finger up in front of Steve's face. Steve has a strong urge to twist that hand just like he did on the first day he met Danny.

Steve says it anyway. "This is bigger than just us Danno yes we have a stake in this because Rutherford indirectly handicapped by brother, your brother in law, and a member of our Ohana, but Rutherford also very directly ordered Gabriel Cardoso to murder Master Chief Montgomery. He also directly forced and is currently still forcing a large number of servicemen to fight to death in his sick and twisted club, for profit, for entertainment of others." It makes Steve sick just thinking about it.

Danny knows Steve is right. That this is about the greater good about stopping a very bad man from hurting anymore good men. He hates to even think of what that man's death toll is just in this case. Let alone internationally.

Danny rams a hand down his face and brings it back up again. "I still don't like it, you know I don't like it when you voluntarily put yourself in danger like this."

"It was exactly voluntarily Danny." Tani reminds the older man. "He and Junior have no choice. For this to work it has to be them."

"I still would have liked to be consulted you know!" Danny's waving and raging with hands again. "We..." Danny thumbs between himself and Tani. "Would have liked to be brought in on this little part of the plan."

Now it's Steve's turn to look exasperated. Or maybe it's just his bladder muscles clenching together. "Would you have agreed to go with it in the first place if we'd told you?" Danny's none answer is answer enough. "I know you don't like this Danny and you wear your heart on your sleeve, but you have put your game face on D, in...6 hours and 30 minutes." Steve checks his watch. "We're going to raid that compound, and I can't have you thinking like Danny from home, my husband. I need you partner."

Danny can't help it that he's emotive and can't just shut off his emotions at times like Steve can, it's not who he is. Not how he was raised. Danny pushes off of the men's room door, and envelopes his partner, best friend and husband in a hug.

"You've got us babe. You got all of us. We'll be watching your and Junior's six just like we always do. It'll be just like old times especially with Chin and Kono here as backup."

That gets Steve smiling now. He'll really have to thank Agent Lahela somehow, for getting the Governor to agree to let Chin Ho and Kono have privileges again on the island just this one last time. The young Hawaiian agent really came for them on this one. She has a way with words that nobody on her team could put together. Whatever she told the Governor, Steve's happy she did.

"We'll do this together like a team, it's like Agent Sullivan always says we do this as a team, together or not at all." Tani tells Steve. Only a little less upset at her boss and Junior for hiding this part of the operation from them.

"Great. Can I piss now?" Steve looks between his two teammates. Danny moves completely out of the way of the men's room door and makes the gesture of 'after you.'

Satisfied there are no more surprises coming their way Tani and Danny both leave and head back to the main office.

---

2132 Hours. NCIS Hawaii Field Office - Tactical Operations Center - JB Pearl Harbor Hickham, Pearl Harbor.

05hrs:32mins remaining

Evan dressed in a white t-shirt and dark blue jeans is standing over a table with paper blueprints of the area in which his team is going to be rescuing and recovering most of the captives. He now knows every inch of that area. After having gone over it four times in the last two hours.

He's always disliked ticking clocks whether metaphorical or literal. Just like this one even though it was in his head. He knew everyone involved in this operation was counting down the hours to the word go. He just didn't think the others were as nervous as he was. Yes, his left arm is better now, and he's got most of his range of motion back now, but there was no way he was leaving his partner high and dry now. Not when it really counted.

"Hey Evan how's it going?" Brianna asks, walking into the bustling command center, where the two NCIS are going over intel and compound details courtesy of Nikolai Sokolov Agent Sullivan's contact.

"Brianna hey I'm good just going over some of the specs again. Want to make sure I've got this down."

Brianna smirks at her partner. "You know you can't lie to a profiler. I used to profile people for a living get inside their heads. Want to try that again Evan?"

Evan fiddles with a small corner of the blueprint paper before looking up at Brianna. "I'm nervous, okay. I know I don't show it often and I'm always the first one to jump into things, but what if something goes wrong. What if I mess up somehow, miss a signal or a mark or something? What if I...?"

Brianna puts her finger a few inches away from Evan's mouth the universal signal for quiet. Brianna looks around at Kali and the other men in the room. Then turns back to Evan. "Evan if you think nobody else in this room is nervous you're in the wrong line of work."

He tilts his head over towards the four men, the Chicago based NCIS agents who are huddled around another area of the room looking at plans themselves. "They're nervous? I doubt it. You saw them come in here. They exuded confidence."

Shaking her head, she calls out to one of the CRT operatives, the one with the short black hair and the black long sleeve shirt. "Hey, Schwartz, was it?" The man turns slightly and nods his head at the blonde-haired agent. "Are you nervous about walking into this viper's pit."

"I am." Peter Schwartz admits truthfully. He's the only one on his team who doesn't have military training, just regular old FLETC CRT training. "But I know with these three knuckleheads by my side." He gestures to Mason, Noah and Ryan, "I know I'm good. I know they got my back."

"And we've got yours Evan, this may be a bigger scaled operation now, but it's not anything we haven't done before." Isaac assures his younger teammate.

"In the SEALs we trained how we fought. We ran mock ups of the op we'd be running. And we'd do it again and again until we got it right." Havika reveals to Evan. There are nods of heads in confirmation from the other ex-SEALs in the room.

"With your added technology skills combined with Chin Ho's from Five-0 we'll be able to run a digital mock-up of the entire thing start to finish. We're going to do this right, and we're going to do this as a team." Lane informs him. "We've all got the same endgame here: take down Rutherford and rescue the captives. Put an end to that man's terror."

"We can do this Agent Carson, one step at time, break it down into small steps or parts and before you know it, it'll be over." Kali assures Evan.

"Thanks Agent Lahela." Evan replies. "Thanks everyone."

He gets various affirmative acknowledgements and he feels better. He really doesn't have anything to prove. He's proved himself time and time again according to Agent Perry and Kamaka.

"Alright let's break it down one more time." Havika tells the room. "When's Five-0 arriving?"

"T-Minus 2 hours Agent Kamaka." SAC Blackburn walks into the room and all occupants in the room stand a little bit straighter a little bit taller. "I want this clean, precise, and I want to take Rutherford's mug off our wall is that understood, Agents?" Lance addresses the room as a whole.

"Yes sir!" Is the resounding acknowledgement that reaches Lance's ears.

---

2332 Hours. NCIS Hawaii Field Office - Tactical Operations Center - JB Pearl Harbor Hickham, Pearl Harbor.

3hrs:28mins remaining

Walking into NCIS Hawaii's TOC is like stepping through a different door, a different home for Steve. Danny can see the change in his husband, his partner. It's smooth as it should be he's seen it before. When Steve would go off on his reserve training when he still had too. When Steve would go off on an unsanctioned rescue op of his brother, in South Africa. He's in a full Navy SEAL commander mode. Eyes only on the mission, on his objective.

His mission objective is to get himself, Junior, Havika and Lane into Rutherford's compound. Find and stall him long enough for the other team's to get into position. Than take-out said man, eliminate the threat.

"Perfect timing as usual McGarrett. You can all stow your go-bags in the far-right corner of the locker room. Agent Lahela can you where it's at. It's only one large area, sorry ladies." Blackburn looks to the two female Five-0 members.

"Not a problem. We're good right Kono?" Tani asks the other woman.

"We're good Agent Blackburn, nothing we haven't seen before."

Kali tries to hide the light smile on her lips. Brianna and her are the same way, seen as one of the guys, but yet. All the men in the room know just how fierce the four female law enforcement members can be.

"Right this way gentlemen, ladies." Kali leads Five-0 out and back to the locker room where all the teams will be changing separately of course the room's not that big. Though it is a decent size. More than two teams of eight aren't in there at once.

Once back from stowing their gear Five-0 split into their two teams. Steve and Junior go over to where Havika and Lane are talking and exchange greetings with the two men.

"Nice night for a raid isn't it." Lane greets the other two SEALs because that's what they are for the rest of the night and tomorrow morning. Steve and Junior aren't acting as cops, they're SEALs. Steve is just Cmdr. Steven J. McGarrett and Junior is PO3 (Petty Officer Third Class) Junior Reigns. Steve isn't Junior's boss tonight. All three younger SEALs by all of three or four years at most will be following Steve's lead in that dense forest in just under three and half hours.

Things are getting real for Danny as he's watching Steve talking mission objectives and entry points and exits with the Agents and Junior. He's truly in his element here, and it still surprises Danny every time he sees him this way.

Danny knows Steve'll be fine he knows it. That's what he keeps telling himself. What he tells Tani as he sees her looking over Junior as well, the other SEALs in the room nearby as well.

"He'll be just fine Tani. Steve has his back, and Junior has his. They know what they're doing." Danny says lightly and puts a hand on her Tani's shoulder in reassurance.

"I know I just keep thinking back to what happened at the shopping center."

"What happened there isn't going to happen here. Only ones going down in this are the bad guys. No more innocent or blue blood will be spilled."

Tani knows what he means by blue blood. He means cop or law enforcement. The good guys.

---

0104 Hours. September 16, 2019 - Monday. NCIS Hawaii Field Office - Tactical Operations Center - JB Pearl Harbor Hickham, Pearl Harbor.

2hrs:07mins remaining

"Two hours til go people." Blackburn announces to the room walking in after just spending the last hour in his coordinating with the support staff they'll have for this op. Army CID and AFOSI - Air Force Office of Special Investigations, this is a multiple armed forces affair. There aren't just sailors and Marines in that compound, Airmen and Soldiers too they'll need to be properly I.D.'ed, and confirmed. Both other agencies have had missing persons' cases grow in the last five months. From simply AWOL or away without leave, to being confirmed missing, when spouses, and other loved ones reported their service member didn't come home last week or he's been gone three months, he was only supposed to be gone on vacation a month. A guys' weekend.

Now those Army and Air Force superiors know where their men are. Here on Oahu. How many though that would be found still alive that's the question. Five months is a long time to accumulate bodies. The Marines and sailors that were found were just the ones that were dumped in public places and able to be identified. There's no telling how many bodies they'll recover. This is a standard rescue and recovery op, so is to say there's nothing standard or normal about this op.

HPD, EMS, and Medical Examiners (both working with HPD and NCIS) are being brought in as well. FBI and Interpol have also been notified and stand awaiting word of when the op is over.

"Last minute prep and gear up let's get to it." Blackburn's orders. The room is a flurry of what Chin and Kono can only think of as organized chaos. It's been a while since they've been around this much activity and around so many people. Even though half of them are their Five-0 Ohana.

Five-0 goes first to the locker room, as the guests of NCIS. The rest of the agents go to the armory to pick out their arsenal. This is something that the agents are in their element doing, gearing up for something like this.

The elite team of NCIS with the MCRT and CRT didn't have an armory like any other law enforcement or federal agency. The sheer amount of weaponry in the room, yes room like an actual door you walk in kind of room. There was also a long table where weapons could be assembled and disassembled in the middle of the room. It was like a walk-in closet but for every possible piece of weaponry a person could imagine.

"Danny...!" Steve exclaims staring wide eyed at the room.

"No Steve. I know you're in some kind of SuperSEAL weapon heaven here, but no. We've got just enough back at HQ."

Steve gives Danny a look as he just walks around the armory, and doesn't pick anything up, but makes sure his holster and his own Sig Sauer is secured to his thigh. Steve's load out or weapon carry on any given Five-0 raid is usually the most of everyone. It's a stark contrast to seeing Steve practically bare in terms of weaponry.

Havika and Lane don't seem all that worried about the fact all they have on their person are their side arms. Danny has to tell himself that it's all a part of the plan. This'll all work out in the end.

"This is impressive." Chin says.

"Everything you need to face off a small army." Isaac says as he picks up an M5 submachine gun. "Chin Ho I hear you're a fan of the shotgun. Take your pick." Isaac waves at a wall with half of the racks filled with shotguns.

"I'll take that Remington shotgun."

"We'll take two of those of M4's." Kono voices looking over at Tani.

"Good because we need you two on long distance, as over-watch. If the guards on the perimeter can't raise the alarm, that's more time we have to do what we need to do." Mason explains.

It was time to go catch themselves a bad guy and give him a taste of his own medicine. Lane thinks to himself as heads out of the armory with Steve, Havika, and Junior.

---

0205 Hours. NCIS Hawaii Field Office - Tactical Operations Center - JB Pearl Harbor Hickham, Pearl Harbor.

1hr:05mins remaining

Everyone had changed into black tactical attire, the only way they could tell each other apart was the different colored pants they all wore. Also their Kevlar vests helped identify who was who. The only four without vests were Lane, Steve, Junior and Havika, the four target SEALs.

"Alpha Team, that's you Commander. You, Reigns, Kamaka and Sullivan will helo in and drop about three miles north of the main gate." Blackburn informs Steve. Steve nods his head in understanding of his objective.

"Bravo Team is Perry, Santiago, Lahela, Carson and Seeger, rescue and recovery of captive operators."

"Charlie Team that's retrieval of the drugs Rutherford is pumping the captives full of and finding the reversal or antidote of the drug. Than double back and help Bravo with the captives, taking out any and all resistant guards."

Blackburn turns to six Five-0 members all kitted out in black tops and green cargo pants. All that was the missing was the war paint and they'd look like a bunch of Steve wanna bees. Danny really hopes this is last time he'll ever have to dress like this again. The last time almost didn't end well.

"Delta Team Five-0 you're Alpha Team's back up when and ONLY when the signal is given do you engage." Blackburn is looking pointedly at Danny. Knowing just how the other man can be when it comes to his partner and being in possible peril.

---

0300 Hours. 3 Miles Off of Rutherford's Compound - Waipahu, Honolulu

00hrs:00mins remaining

"Alpha Team drop zone." Steve whispers through his com embedded in his ear. The four men had rappelled down from the helicopter in tactical gear. Then they stripped out of said gear for just the plain civilian clothes they were underneath. All dressed in black cargo pants and t-shirts, they head into forest with only the aid of their night vision goggles.

"Copy that Alpha Team." Blackburn relays back from the TOC in NCIS HQ. "Alpha one passes Omaha." Blackburn crosses off a box on a chalkboard marked 'OMAHA. Five other boxes remain uncrossed as of yet.

Blackburn also knew now that the operation was on a new timeline. Sunrise was in under three hours. They had to move now and move fast if they wanted to maintain objective under the cover of the early morning darkness. Now they still had the element of surprise on their side. Once the sun rose the whole operation could be blown if the next key objectives aren't met on time.

02hrs:50mins til sun rise

Steve and Havika took point on their trek through the forest. While Junior was squarely in the middle and Lane brought up the rear of the quartet.

They were all about a hundred or so meters from the main gate, when Kono's voice came over the coms.

"Snipers in position." Kono reports. Two minutes later shots are heard in the distance and Tani's voice rings through the coms.

"Tangos down. I repeat tangos down." Tani laughed inwardly to herself she felt like she was playing a videogame. She also knew she very much wasn't and was this how Junior and Steve always operated whenever they were on their super-secret classified SEAL missions. It somehow made her feel closer to Junior in a way she hadn't been before.

Steve and Havika drop to the ground wet squishy ground and crawl on their bellies through the wet, thinning grass the small rocks digging into their covered elbows. This time of the norming is also why they picked this precise time because of the weather, there had just been a light shower an hour ago and also provided them with cover.

Junior and Lane following Steve's lead and dropping to the ground as well. The smell of dewy foliage after a rain hits their noses. But also the mud and Lane just knows he's going to have mud into places mud should not be. He'll be taking two, no three showers after this is all over. Three very long not three-minute Navy showers.

"Freeze," Blackburn orders over the com.

Steve holds up a fist. Havika, Junior and Lane stop in their advancement towards the main gate. Now only mere yards away.

"All hostiles are still inside. Twelve with the captives to the west of your location. Four with target making a nightly patrol. When I give the signal breach the door."

"Copy that." Steve whispers and he has to admit it feels good to have Blackburn in his ear again. Monitoring the situation. He knows everyone's positions and the hostiles.

"Once inside move on target and provide cover for Bravo and Charlie teams to make entry. I'll hear everything within several feet of your position. There are two hostiles with AK's and two with pistols."

That let them know which two they'd need to take out first before being able to deal with Rutherford himself, how much time they had. To give the others space they needed to make entry to where the captive fighters were being held.

"Copy that. Let's move." Steve pulls out his sidearm he has stashed in his ankle holster as do the others copying his lead.

"Hostiles are in position." Blackburn notifies the team of four.

"Moving." Steve replies as he and Havika stack up on one side of the door and Junior and Lane stack up on the opposite. Steve and Junior both places charges on their sides of the door, and count down. 3…2…1…."

---

The loud boom is the just the right amount of force and shock to blast the gate doors open inward. Once inside Steve goes for the goon on the left with the AK assault rifle and has disengaged his hostile before he's even got a chance to get a shot off.

Junior takes out the second hostile with the AK, and he goes down with a thump on the ground. Rutherford turns slowly around in his tailored gray suit.

What kind of man wears a tailored three-piece suit at three in the morning. Does this yahoo ever sleep? Doesn't matter he can sleep all he wants when he's dead. Lane thinks and refocuses himself on the man in question.

Both he and Havika had disarmed the two, downed men and taken their weapons for themselves. Steve and Junior still only have their side arms. Two AK's are aimed are two vital parts of body. Havika aiming at Rutherford's chest center mass, and Lane aiming for right between the eyes.

"McGarrett." Rutherford's voice is rough and deep his German accent thick. There was a certain in his eyes like he's thinks he's got the upper hand just because Steve's staring him down with his best Navy SEAL glare. "And friends, Agent Sullivan was it not." Rutherford remarks eyeing Lane holding the assault rifle at his head.

"Gimme one good reason why I shouldn't just shoot him now and be done with it?" Lane looks over at Steve.

"Not yet Senior Chief." Steve's voice is calm and steady even with the two goons with pistols aimed at him.

"You are all on a what is it you Americans call it a suicide mission. You believe you can take me in my own fortress." Rutherford mocks.

"We'll do a lot more than just take you." Junior replies.

"Petty Officer Third Class Junior Reigns. 4 tours of duty, in Afghanistan and Iraq. Father was also Navy. Has an interest in one your co-workers, an Officer Tani Rey."

Junior is shocked but remains calm under the older man's scrutiny. The man had been watching other members of the NCIS and Danny so it's not a stretch he'd check out others as well. He kept himself in check knowing SAC Blackburn could hear everything as well their backup.

"Georg Hans Rutherford, international terrorist, you've got your hand in the criminal cookie jar don't cha mien freund. Human trafficking, drugs, terrorism a whole slew of other dastardly deeds. Too bad it's all going to come crashing down around you." Sullivan smirks at the way Rutherford's face contorts in anger. The two goons still armed by his side have no idea what to do.

"You lie!" Rutherford asserts.

"Do we?" Havika asks. "I've always told my kids lying is bad haven't you Sullivan."

"Oh most definitely." Lane replies.

"Disarm them now!" Rutherford booms tired of the prattling on the two other sailors are doing.

"I don't think so buddy boy." Lane snarks. 'Move one inch and your boss dies." The two dunderheaded goons are stricken they don't know what to do follow their boss' order or listen to the known federal agent.

"As we speak, all your operations and all your endeavors across the globe are being dismantled torn apart ripped open by the FBI and Interpol." Steve explains and it only makes the man in front of him angrier.

"You're lying." Rutherford yells at the four men. "This…this is a suicide mission for you. You will not got out of here alive."

Havika slowly claps his hands together. "Bravo great show great show real scary like. This is a suicide mission. You will not get out of ere' alive. What do you take us for idiots."

Lane picks up his friend's train of thought. "You think just the four of us could storm this place. That, that really would be suicidal. I have no intention of leaving my children fatherless."

"Neither does Cmdr. McGarrett over there." Lane points a thumb over at Steve who has his pistol trained on goon 1 Junior has his is trained on goon 2 on Rutherford's left his right.

"He's right you know. I wouldn't want to my partner would kill me before you would. I may have done some questionable things in the past. I may be a guns and ammo love lunatic, I may be a Neanderthal, but I…"

"Bravo Team in position holding ground" Agent Perry radios in.

"Charlie Team in position holding ground" Agent McBride's voice comes over coms.

"I'm never without my partner close by." Steve finishes just as Danny, Chin and Kono burst through the door. "My backup."

"I mean honestly man did you think we'd come here without it?" Lane asks as he watching Chin and Kono disarm the two goons that had weapons trained on Steve and Junior.

"Tie them up together with those two." Junior says to Chin and Kono and throws the other two island native's zip ties for the now four unconscious men.

"Game Over Rutherford. Show's finished. Your precious fighters are no longer yours." Steve explains evenly he knows he has the other man right where he wants him. Steve steps closer to Rutherford with his gun. He looks up and then then at Steve his sole focus on him. "You were wrong when you said we'd be the ones not to get out of here alive." Steve raises his gun to the other man's head.

Rutherford is smiling like he knows something the others don't. even with a gun pointed at his head. Even in death he knows something.

"Ride bene chi ride ultimo." Passes Georg Rutherford's lips before three simultaneous shots ring out through the air. Two shot to the chest, center mass, and one right in his forehead. He falls backwards to the hard, concrete ground like a lead paperweight.

Steve looks up and over to where the other two shots came from both Lane and Havika with their stolen weapons slung around their shoulders are holding their own side arms out and pointed in Rutherford's direction.

"Call it poetic justice." Havika suggests.

"It's what Scott would have done." Lane explains easily. Adrenaline still flowing through his body at the action.

"Hostiles secured in north wing." Agent Santiago comes over the radio where he and the rest the NCIS team are freeing the now former captive special operators.

"Formula antidote retrieved rendezvous at Bravo's position." Agent McBride confirms over coms.

"Good work teams. Alpha, Delta rendezvous with the others in the main staging area, HPD EMS and ME's are two mikes out." Blackburn informs the teams.

"He's dead." Danny confirms pulling two fingers back from Rutherford's throat. "No pulse." He says as if that makes it more clear. They all know the three shots fired were all kill shots. There's no way to know whose kill shot was actually the one that penetrated the body first.

Lou and Adam are looking out for any stragglers that might have escaped the main fight staging area a building over. While the others tie up loose ends quite literally. The men Chin and Kono tied up are being hauled out by Tani, Kono, Chin and Junior.

"You okay babe?" Danny asks completely forgetting that coms are still on.

He felt at peace when he shot and killed Wo-Fat in that old laundry mat after he'd tortured Steve. Right now even though Steve's standing near Rutherford's dead body steadily growing cold, is a cold sense of dread. He can't shake what the man's dying last words were.

Steve looks away from the body and back to Danny. "I am now, see I told you everything would work out."

"Only because we were here Steven. As your backup."

"That was the plan all along D."

---

As the both Alpha and Delta teams left the body of Rutherford behind in the auxiliary building the teams walked out of the building in the compound to quite a sight.

"Well ain't that a sight, that's something I'll never get tired of seeing." Lou stops in his tracks halfway across and the open compound and stared up at the sky.

"It's beautiful isn't Danno. I told you there was beauty it." Steve wraps an arm around his husband looking up at the sky as well.

"Shhh, Steven don't ruin the moment." Danny whispers as he's looking up at the sky with everyone else. Just standing their admiring it's beauty. "Most beautiful sunrise I've ever seen indeed babe. Most beautiful one indeed."

---

The End…

A/N: Or is it? Okay no really this is the final formal end of this story. The case is finally wrapped and finished. My first story on here and I'm pretty darn proud of myself. I know it ended kind of fluffy, and sappy there, but there's a point to that a reason for that.

I know you probably have unanswered questions, some may be answered. Some not. I am though continuing on with this McGarrett Brothers AU I have created here. I have to tackle Season 10 of course. I've already got the first episode I'm writing of that season partially outlined.

I'll also be cross posting this story and all future McGarrett Brothers stories in this series on AO3 or Archive of Our Own as I am way more active over there in reading and that site will be my new posting site. My username is HawaiiFive0Fanatic, I'll start posting a chapter a day from this 'season 9', starting Friday until I've uploaded all chapters from this story and figure out how that upload system works.

There also is an alternate ending also in the works that I will post on AO3 as that will be rated higher than what I can put on here and not get my story taken down. Let me know if you want to see the alternate ending on AO3.

Hope everyone enjoyed the ride reading it as much as I did writing it. Look out for the epilogue of this story coming this Friday evening (actually that my dad's birthday) or this weekend (which is actually Father's Day so uh no make that Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

Aloha a hui hou everyone.