Twenty minutes before...

Meredith was walking down the halls of the mall with Debby and Joe. "So, did you like the new toys Grandma bought?" She asked her grandchildren.

"I liked my dinosaur, Grandma," Joe answered as he held his dinosaur."

"I loved my doll, Grandma," Debby was very smiling.

"I'm so glad you guys liked it," Meredith was looking at a shop window of a clothing store when she heard a scream and gunshots coming from the main entrance. "It's a robbery!" She thought and held the children's hands and walked hurriedly to the opposite side. "Let's play a little?" She told the children.

"Yes!" Debby and Joe answered.

Catherine was terrified to see her car in the mall parking lot. "Our kids, Steve! My mother!"

Steve was also desperate and afraid. "I'm going there, Cath!"

"I'm going with you," she left home the way she was dressed.

Steve drove quickly as he prayed in his mind that nothing would happen to the kids and his mother-in-law: "They'll be fine, Cath. They're going to be okay," he told her, but he also tried to convince himself.

Catherine was crying as a thousand things went through her mind. They arrived quickly to the place and the task force was already there as well as other policemen.

"Danny, what's going on in there?" Steve asked in anguish.

"It's a hostage robbery. But what are you two doing here?" Danny told Steve and Catherine.

"We think my mom's here with Debby and Joe. My car's in the parking lot," Catherine shook one hand in the other nervously. Catherine and Steve were trained to stay calm in situations like that, but that didn't work when it came to their own kids.

"I'm sorry," Danny put his hand on Catherine's shoulder to comfort her.

"And what's being done about it, Danny? Who is in charge?" Steve asked.

"The negotiators, Steve."

Steve looked in the direction of the negotiators and was very angry. "They're doing nothing, Danny. They're just talking."

"That's not true, Steve. You know better than anyone how things work. You have to take it easy. I didn't even have to be telling you this," Danny was already predicting that Steve would want to do something crazy.

Steve was nervous and frustrated for not being part of the task force anymore and just watching what was happening without being able to do anything. Catherine put both hands on Steve's face. "Don't be like that, Steve." Steve looked at her who also had tears in her eyes and hugged her. "I feel like a worthless father, Cath. To me it feels like I've only known them a few days, but I love them. I don't want to lose our children".

"We won't lose them," Catherine told him.

"Your mother is a demanding mother-in-law, and even boring at times, but I like her and I don't want her to die. I don't want anyone else to die."

More shots were heard and Steve abruptly released Catherine. He felt his mind spinning and his heart beating. "Danny, I need the mall plan!"

You're not going in there!" Danny told him. Danny knew that Steve was in no psychological condition to do anything.

"And who will stop me? You?" Steve pushed Danny and Danny instinctively punched Steve. Steve fell and hit his head on the ground.

Catherine took her hands to her head when she saw Steve fall "Danny! Why did you do that?" Catherine bent down to help Steve and saw that his head was bleeding a little.

"I'm sorry, Catherine. It was an involuntary reaction. I didn't mean to hurt him," Danny replied.

"I need help!" She screamed, and the doctors who were there helped Steve. He was taken to the ambulance and was being seen by the doctors.

Steve was unconscious and the doctors took him to the hospital for a CT scan. Catherine was bewildered, she didn't know whether to go to the hospital or stay. She decided to stay and Tani offered to go to the hospital with Steve.

"Thank you, Tani. Call me as soon as you can," Catherine asked.

"Of course, Catherine," Tani got in the car and followed the ambulance.

"Forgive me, Catherine," Danny asked again.

"You shouldn't have done this, Danny. He's already so hurt by life."

"I couldn't let him in there, Catherine. They'd kill him!"

"I wouldn't let him in. He's desperate, it's his kids in there. If it was Charlie or Grace you'd want to do the same," Catherine replied.

Some time later Steve woke up in the hospital, and it took a while to get his thoughts in order.

Tani waited outside his room and saw Steve rushing out of the room with his head bandaged.

"McGarrett? Where are you going? As far as I know, doctors haven't released you."

"I'm not staying here while my kids are in danger. They're my family, my blood." Steve said as he walked and Tani was following him. "And speaking of family, how's your brother?"

"Wait a minute... do you remember my brother?" Tani asked.

Steve nodded. "I'm back, Tani..."