"It's a knock and talk, Lou. Nothing else."

"Seriously now." Lou leaned back in the chair. "Do you know how many times I've heard that and then Steve blows up the whole block?"

Silence fell between them for a hot second. Flat Steve loomed between them.

Danny didn't have the best comeback, so he stated the obvious. "I'm – uh – not Steve, Lou."

"Didn't say you were, now did I?"

"Then what?" Itching to get out of the office, Danny didn't hide his impatience. "I'll be back in an hour. Tani will come with."

"We haven't been having the best run of luck."

Danny frowned. He didn't need a roadblock. "Care to elaborate?"

"Well," Lou paused before launching into his answer. "Junior took a header into the canal, and he's out for two days waiting on blood tests and resting his fool head."

"I know you have more. Get on with it." Danny waved at Lou.

"Quinn crashed her vehicle into a construction barrier. Adam got sidelined with a concussion as a result. And Lincoln skedaddled as soon as he got the chance."

"And this affects me how?"

"You're all I got left, man."

"And Tani."

"She's only half here because Junior's on the mend."

"Hey, she's fine. I had a chat with her last night."

"We haven't been the same since we lost our lucky rabbit's foot."

"What? Are you serious? Lucky rabbit's foot?"

Lou shrugged. So close to breaking.

Danny laughed. "So he's our lucky charm?"

"Something like that." Lou replied. Then he shook his head. "Who am I kidding? Hell, we all need a vacation."

"You're not making any sense, Lou. You sure I'm the one who should be on desk duty?"

"This guy –" Danny flicked Flat Steve. "He's a trouble magnet. Always has been."

"Danny…"

"Don't Danny me. And stop looking at me like that while you're at it." Danny said, voice raised a bit. "You know it's true. I kinda like the peace and quiet with him gone."

Which was total bullshit, and they both knew it. Danny shoved his hands in to his pockets. Lou took a deep breath, didn't reply. What could he say?

"Hey." Tani popped into the office, bouncing on her toes. "We ready to go?"

"If dad here says I can," Danny replied.

"Oh no you didn't," Lou said.

"If the shoe fits," Tani answered. "Look at him. He's ready. And I promise to take good care of him."

Sighing, Lou frowned. "Against my better judgment. And only because I promised Renee I'd have lunch with her today."

"Right on." She grinned before turning to Danny. "Toss me the keys."

With a giggle, Danny wrapped his fingers around the key ring in his pocket. This all felt so familiar, yet new at the same time. Would he ever drive his car? "Do you mean my keys?"

She held out her hand and tapped her foot. "Come on. You haven't let me drive your new baby yet."

"Please don't make me regret it, you two."

"We'll be fine, Lou. Go enjoy some quality time with Renee."

"Quality time." Tani fake coughed into her hand.

Danny fist bumped her and wiggled his eyebrows. "Afternoon delight."

"Go on. Make jokes, you two. We'll just see if I sign off on your expense reports."

Tani rolled her eyes. "Jeez, it was so much easier when Steve was here."

/././

Three hours later…

"So, how's it feel? To be out here. You know, on the mean streets," Tani asked before flipping up the lid on her coffee and giving it a tentative sniff.

Danny waved his hands. "Hey, whoa. Nope. Don't even go there."

"What?" She blurted, almost spilling coffee on herself.

"First of all. These are not mean streets. You want mean streets, come with me to Jersey some time. You can do a ride along with a buddy of mine," Danny answered, motioning to her drink. "Second and most important. You don't trust me?"

Raising an eyebrow, she studied him for a second. "Oh I trust you."

"Then what?" Danny bit his lip.

"I trust you to put salt in my coffee. Or worse."

Danny giggled. "Salt?"

"Steve warned me."

"You wouldn't smell it if I did." Danny turned in his seat to get a better look at her. For the first time in a while, he didn't care if she mentioned Steve. "And the animal did it to me. Not the other way around."

Tani laughed. "I know."

"Then why would you think I would prank you?" He asked. "You think I'd stoop to his level?"

Danny looked almost hurt, but his eyes told the truth. He was enjoying the banter. It felt good to kid someone. Wasn't quite cargument level, of course, but it was something.

"I don't know?" She sniffed her coffee again before taking a sip. She smiled and nodded. "Mmm...hmmm."

"See? It's perfect."

Tani replied, "Yes, it is. Wow."

"Like I'd give you shitty coffee. It's practically a religious experience. Not something to be toyed with." He smacked her arm before settling back in his seat.

"I was just messing with you." She sighed. "Stakeouts are boring."

"It's not a stakeout. We're waiting to talk to our witness. That's why they call it a knock and talk."

"We knocked. He wasn't there. Can't we leave him a note? He is just a witness, after all." Extra petulant, she checked her phone before hugging herself.

Danny knew her mood shift was about more than boring stakeouts and missing witnesses.

"Hey," he said. "Junior will be ok."

"Will he? He told me I worry too much."

Closing his eyes, Danny shook his head. He wasn't in the mood for this conversation. Tani grabbed her coffee and took a big gulp, scowling at the heat.

"Slow it down."

"Sure thing, dad." Tani rolled her eyes.

"You're breaking the cardinal rule of stakeouts."

"Really?" She relaxed a little, but raised an eyebrow at him. "The cardinal rule of stakeouts? What exactly is that? Don't bore your partner to death?"

"Hey, this is serious."

"I'm sure it is. Spit it out. What's the cardinal rule of stakeouts?"

"Limit your fluid intake."

Tani nestled her mug back into the cup holder.

"It's probably already too late."

"Stop." She slapped his leg.

"Hey wanna hike to that waterfall?" Danny grinned, his eyes twinkling. "I can't remember what it was called but there was a lot of…water…falling."

"Waterfall? What?" Tani paused, wrinkling her nose when she got it. "You suck!"

"You're too easy." Danny told her. He pointed toward the street corner ahead of them. "There's a friendly bathroom over there. They'll let you use the john at the surf shop. I didn't bring any mayonnaise jars."

"Mayonnaise? I don't get it."

He waved an empty water bottle at her. "Think about it."

She frowned. "Ew gross. You men are so…gross. I'll just hold it."

"You don't have to hold it. Big Wave Surf has a nice bathroom."

"I suppose that's another rule."

"It is."

"And what is the rule exactly?"

"Know your bathrooms and coffee shops."

"Well, I'm gonna go test out your rule then. Big Wave here I come."

"You do that." Danny sipped his coffee, scanning the street and sidewalk around them. Waikiki was rather subdued that day with rain threatening. It was almost eerie.

"Alright. I'll be back," Tani said, annoyed.

"Bring some snacks."

For a second, he thought she'd slam the door, but she stuck to protocol. Not drawing attention to them. Danny really liked Tani. He was continually impressed with her growing skills as a detective, and she was a good friend.

Danny pushed back his seat and relaxed for a few seconds. He felt like a cop again. He was doing actual detective work. Running down leads. Questioning witnesses and suspects without breaking their arms. His old body couldn't handle taking up the McGarrett mantle. Tedious procedures and dull stakeouts were fine with him. But not his fidgety, thirsty carmate. Tani had been thrilled to drive his brand spanking new Camaro until she found out what they were doing.

He dared say he was content in that moment. Happy had become a bad word, but Danny had to admit he was feeling better. Thankful to be back at work. Even the coffee tasted better.

Then all hell broke loose.

Their witness emerged from a coffee shop just south of Tani's bathroom spot. Danny sent her a quick text but he realized she was already on the guy, shouting her credentials and giving chase. Out of instinct, Danny followed. Desk duty be damned.

Pumping his arms, feet pounding the pavement, he raced behind them. He was pleasantly surprised that he closed the distance. He'd been jogging more to build up his fitness. He-who-shall-not-be-named would be impressed.

A clutch of tourists slowed them down, and he almost rejoiced. Until he saw it. Danny watched in horror as Tani pursued the idiot into afternoon traffic. Horns honked and people screamed. He kept going, dodging a bike messenger and finally coming within inches of Tani. Just in time to shove her out of the path of a car. Lucky for him, the driver slammed on their brakes. Not so lucky for him, the sedan still clipped him. He rolled up the hood and then onto the hot pavement, smacking his head. The world blinked out as Tani screamed his name.

Yessss...I did just leave it there. Blame the DWOCD. I hope you all enjoy the whump. No way was I writing a fix-it without it. Don't worry. I don't plan on making you wait too long.