Heyy guys, here's another chapter for you. A Christmas gift. Merry Christmas everyone!

Chapter 45

McGarrett read the situation in a split second, Catherine was in danger. He took one step forward,

reached out and grabbed Vasily by the neck. The two men locked eyes.

Steve placed a hand behind each ear and with one long practiced quick jerking twist neutralized the

Russian threat.

"Cat!"

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Vasily was sure his target was under the human pile. He switched his gun to his other hand and aimed

at the woman. After all, with her man dead, it was a service to not let such a pretty woman to kill

herself grieving for the man. Better to send them to oblivion together.

The bathroom door opened suddenly and Vasily turned. He locked eyes with McGarrett. Maybe it was

the navy training or maybe just his reflex to seeing his woman being threatened, but McGarrett had his

hands around Vasily's neck before he could even think to respond. A sudden and quick motion, he

heard bones snap. He was still conscience when McGarrett pushed his broken body aside.

After hitting then slumping down the wall, all he could do was watch the American step over him and

rush to the women's side.

'At least I got the trooper.' Vasily thought. As his brain dimmed from the lack of oxygen, he regretted

he never tried to find a woman to love above all like the American. His vision narrowed then darkened

and then nothingness.

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With one quick twisting jerk, Steve snapped the Russian's neck. "Cat!" McGarrett pushed Vasily's

crumbled body out of his way and rushed to her side. "Cat, Cat? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just can't move." She answered from under McTavish's lifeless body.

"I got you." Steve grunted as he lifted the trooper's fallen form just enough for Catherine to free herself.

Danny burst through the door with Chin and Lou right on his heels, guns drawn. "Whoa! Did McTavish

get him?"

"No." Steve said with effort. "I did. He's done." He checked the trooper's neck for a pulse. "Get a med

team in here! McTavish is alive!"

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"Lou! Get a doctor. Chin! Help me!"

The two detectives helped move McTavish to the unoccupied bed as Melissa rushed in with a crash cart

and others.

"Karen, page any doctor ASAP but Dr. Charity on the double." Melissa ordered and Karen disappeared.

Catherine was quick to loosen McTavish's jacket. "Steve!"

"Good man, bulletproof vest."

Melissa had put the oxygen on the trooper as Danny prepared to start CPR.

McTavish coughed and his eyes fluttered open. He groaned.

"The vest saved him." Lou said with an ear-to-ear grin. "Get that jacket off."

Danny and Steve helped McTavish sit up. They held him while Melissa and Catherine hurried to strip

him to the waist.

"Steve, no entry wound!" Catherine said happily. "His vest, his vest took the bullet!"

Lou grabbed the vest and held it up triumphantly. "It didn't penetrate the vest. Hallelujah!"

Groaning loudly, McTavish leaned forward to rest his forearms on his thighs. "I feel like I've been kicked

by a pissed off mule." He said weakly.

Danny slapped him on the back. "Yeah? But the vest did its job. You will have a hell of a bruise and

quite a story and you're alive to tell it yourself."

"Yes sir."

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Dennis Goodweather was enjoying his sweet afterglow. He was enjoying the feeling of complete

relaxation. He was aware of Julianne in the shower, humming happily to herself.

Life was good. Things were finally starting to go his way. He put his arms behind his head and crossed

his legs at the ankles. He sighed contentedly.

A knock at the door brought him back to the here and now. "Who is it?"

"Room service."

Dennis got up. He had ordered some champagne from room service over a half hour ago. Well,

tardiness will be reflected in the tip. He threw on his complimentary robe and went to the door.

He opened the door.

Using the bottle like a club, George hit him. Dennis crumpled to the floor silently. George shoved the

room service cart down the empty hallway. He pushed Dennis' body out of the way and shut the door.

He heard Julianne splashing in the shower. Drawing his knife, he went toward the bathroom.

The front room was small but nicely appointed. The sleeping quarters were opulent and luxurious. The

bathroom was a personal care dream. A small sauna even a step in Jacuzzi tub. The back wall was a

shower built for two. A rain shower fell from the ceiling and a small woman's silhouette was seen

through the silken curtain. George waited until the woman leaned back to raise her hair. He reached in

the shower and put his hand over her mouth. His other hand pinched off her jugular vein. Within

seconds, Julianne fell into George's arm unconscious. He shut off the water and untangled her body

from the shower curtain. He grabbed a towel from the nearby rack and roughly dried her off, sort of.

He then carried her body to the bed and raped her.

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It was late in the day when Dennis came to. He realized he was face down on the floor and cold. He

rolled over and sat up. Tasting blood, he wiped at his mouth and nose then remembered. He stood up

and went to the sleeping area.

Except for the unnatural angle of her neck, Julianne looked asleep in bed. Sitting in a chair with his feet

on the bed was George Federchuk. He was drinking vodka from the room's mini bar.

"Hello counselor."

Dennis leaned against the door frame. "My God in heaven, George. What did she do?"

"She got tired of 'entertaining' me while you were ah, napping." George said smugly.

"Oh, George. Why would you do this?"

"Women are a dime a dozen. She was nothing special." George finished off the vodka. "No one cares

about her." He waived his hand dismissively. "Now, we've got business to conclude."

Dennis straightened and walked to the bed and stroked Julianne's cold face. "I'm so sorry."

"Business, Dennis."

"What about her?"

"Don't worry; I have a plan for her."

"We can't fold her into a suitcase!"

"She will be in luxury. No worries."

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"Damn! I thought Catherine shot him. Who broke his neck?" Danny demanded.

Jerry, the coroner, shrugged. "Snapped cleanly, by someone who knew what they were doing." He

joined his assistant making final preparations to move the Russian to the morgue, stepping around

hospital security.

Danny looked at Lou and Chin. All three looked at Steve McGarrett, sitting in his wheelchair, with

Catherine sitting in his lap. They were comforting each other after the near-death experience.

The coroner and his assistant raised their stretcher and escorted the dead body of Vasily Federchuk out

to the corridor, followed by the police crime scene photo technician and hospital personnel.

"McTavish, reporting for duty, sir."

Danny shook head. "No way. Graham, your vest saved you. Take the rest of the week. I'm sure the

incident investigator will find you."

"Did Miss Catherine save me?"

"I'm pretty sure it was McGarrett himself."

"I see. Thank you, sir."

Danny and the others watched McTavish square his shoulders and walk out of the room. "There goes an

incredibly lucky man." Danny said thoughtfully.

"Damn lucky." Lou agreed.

Chin nodded.

"Let's go talk to McGarrett, get the straight shit." Danny said. They wandered over to the back of the

room where Steve and Catherine were quietly chatting with Dr. Charity.

"If you think you need a tranquillizer, either of you, just ask Melissa. I'll leave orders with her so you can

get a good nights' sleep." The petite doctor sighed. "Are you sure you don't want another room?"

"We're fine." Steve assured her.

"Yes, another room would be preferred." Danny quickly spoke up. "Lou, please get the crime scene

tape and let's seal up this room."

"Will do, boss."

"I'll arrange another room for you two and a sleep aid on standby." Dr. Charity said as she rose to leave.

She turned to Dany. "Detective, can Commander McGarrett stay on this floor? The staff knows him and

his medical routine."

"That's fine." Danny smiled. "I wouldn't want to screw up the medical staff."

The doctor left to make the arrangements. Lou returned from taping off the door.

Danny looked at Steve as he sat down where the doctor was sitting. "There's not on mark on Vasily…"

"I know." Steve nodded as he stroked Catherine's hair. "I snapped his neck. He was about to shoot

Catherine down and I had no choice." He looked Danny in eye. "And I'd do it again."

"No doubt he was a clear and ongoing threat that had to be neutralized." Danny agreed. "But how did

you do it?"

Steve looked askance at Danny's question. After a minute, he returned his attentions to Catherine.

Danny waited until Steve looked away. He remembered what Junior had told him and decided not to

pursue it, realizing he really didn't want to know the answer anyway. Knowing Steve could kill someone

so easily, with no weapon but his bare hands sort of unnerved him a bit. On the other hand, that ability

solidified his respect for the Navy man's abilities. Not a professor indeed.

"You okay though?" Danny asked as a formality.

"We're fine. Thanks." Steve replied as Catherine waved.

"Do you need anything before we take off?"

Steve thought a moment. "I don't think so. I think we just need to sleep, get our bearings. This was

quite the shock."

"I bet. Look, I'll stay here tonight and Lou and the gang can come get me tomorrow." Danny looked at

Lou who nodded. "I'd feel safer knowing someone was here, just in case."

No one really noticed Dr. Charity and Melissa come back.

"Hey boss." Chin stepped forward. "I'll stay. You got a family, I don't."

"You sure?"

"Yes sir."

"Well, you'll have to sleep in the lobby." Melissa said with a straight face.

"That's fine."

"She's pulling your leg." Dr. Charity turned to the nurse. "Melissa."

Melissa sighed and tried to look innocent.

"You can have the vacant room either across or next door to Commander McGarrett."

"Across please."

"Okay, let's get you to your new rooms." Melissa said.

"Okay if we tape this room off?" Danny asked.

"I check with hospital administration, they have no issues if you do since we're at 68% capacity." Dr.

Charity verified.

Everyone helped Steve move his things to his new room. While gathering his few belongings a cell

phone rang. Everyone checked theirs before Danny realized it came from under Steve's bed.

"Anybody?" He held up a finger and everyone fell silent. Then Danny slid the 'accept' botton but said

nothing. Seconds went by.

Finally…

"Vasily?"

Danny, Lou and Steve recognized George Federchuk's voice. They exchanged looks.

"Сделано?" Hearing no answer, George growled and hung up.

"Wonder what that was." Lou commented to no one in particular.

"'Is it done?'" Steve quietly translated.