CHAPTER 43

The drive back to Steve's house was unusually quiet. Danny drove while Steve sat motionless in the passenger seat. The fact that Steve hadn't even fought about driving sent warning signals straight to Danny's head. Even if Steve was bleeding from a gaping hole in his leg, he would still be demanding to drive. Danny wasn't sure if Steve's apathy was due to exhaustion after his efforts earlier that morning or if there was something else bothering his partner. Knowing Steve, it was probably a combination of both.

Danny quietly wondered what was on Steve's mind. Silence often meant Steve was thinking, which could be a good thing but after everything that had just happened, Danny seriously doubted that. Between the stress Steve was already under and then finding out some of his old friends were involved in murder, followed by learning Nazeef and Fuentes were acquaintances and his subsequent torture…well, it had to take its toll.

Danny knew this latest misadventure had to have brought back some horrible memories, but also created some new ones. Danny was familiar with Steve's method of compartmentalisation; locking away all unwanted emotions to be dealt with later, or not at all. It was effective in the short term, but in the long term? Not so much.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Danny asked quietly.

Steve sighed. "Nothing."

"That's not nothing."

Steve crossed his arms over his chest and looked out the window, pointedly ignoring Danny.

Danny sighed. "Don't shut me out, Steve."

Now it was Steve's turn to sigh. "I'm sorry Danny."

Danny flicked his eyes over to Steve and he took in his slumped posture before returning his attention to the road. Danny stayed silent and waited for Steve to continue.

"I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys everything from the start. I should have told you about Singleton and Bennington instead of yelling at you. Then we could have found out about all of this much sooner and none of this would have happened. If I had just told you, then there wouldn't be so many people dead. Nazeef wouldn't have targeted you and Grace would be safe. I made Nazeef go after Grace because I refused to give him what he wanted. I couldn't stop him, Danny. I tried but— "

"Steve, stop! We have already talked about this. We all know that this was not your fault…In fact, I'm the one that should be asking for your forgiveness," Danny said.

"What?" Steve asked incredulously.

"You told us to back off, to not get involved. You warned us of the dangers we would be facing going after Nazeef. If anything, it's my fault."

"How is any of this your fault?" Steve asked quietly.

"I went behind your back and kept information from you. If I had just been upfront with you, we could have found out about Nazeef sooner. I didn't listen to you and it brought trouble down on us. I let Nazeef use us to get to you. I let him use Grace against you…and you still managed to keep her safe."

"Danny…"

"I'm sorry Steve. When the doctor told us you were in a coma, I kind of lost it. He said that as your POA, I would have to make some tough decisions. I…I didn't want to. Instead, I got so caught up in tracking down every single person in Nazeef's network. I felt if I could protect you from them, then you would be safe. I wanted to repay the favour. Then Kono used Grace against me to get me to see you. It was devious, but it worked. I'm sorry I didn't see you right away. I just…I don't know. I think I just wanted to…"

"It's okay, Danny. I get it…I do," Steve paused. "No matter what you did, Nazeef would have found one way or another to inflict as much pain as possible. He was evil…vindictive. He had no idea just who he was going up against. Without you…without all of you, I would be dead. Nazeef finally met his match. He can't hurt anyone else ever again. Thanks to you, no one else associated with him can either. Take it as a win and let it go."

Danny thought about that for a moment. Steve was right; Nazeef would have done it anyway because he was blinded by his need for revenge. Nothing they could have done would have prevented it.

"Yeah, okay," Danny said.

Danny pulled the Camaro into Steve's driveway and the two men stared at the house in silence.

"You ready to go inside?" Danny asked.

"Are you sure there is no pink?" Steve asked uncertainly.

Danny looked at Steve incredulously. "How do you even remember that?"

"I think I heard some of what you were saying when I was in the coma. It was kind of the first thing I remember hearing," Steve answered. "Plus, you and Chin weren't exactly quiet this morning."

"You started waking up after I told you about the party Grace had planned. You…you squeezed my hand," Danny explained.

Danny climbed out of the car and made his way to the front door. He stopped when he realised Steve hadn't moved from the car. Danny walked back to the passenger side door and opened it.

"Steve? You coming?" Danny asked.

"Just…give me a minute," Steve replied.

Danny nodded and stood back, giving his partner his space.

"If you are wondering whether your living room still looks like an interrogation room, trust me, it doesn't. We put everything back in its rightful place," Danny said.

"It's not that," Steve said.

"Okay…"

"It's…is everyone in there?" Steve asked hesitantly.

"Yeah. Everyone wanted to welcome you home," Danny answered.

Steve took a deep breath to calm himself. "Okay. Let's go."

Climbing out of the car took more effort than Steve would care to admit. He felt exhausted after the walk earlier that morning. He really didn't feel like a party. However, since Grace had gone to all the effort, he would persevere just to see the look on her face.

Steve walked slowly up to his front door. His walk was more unsteady than he would have liked, but he was determined to do it by himself. Despite what everyone often thought, he was aware of his own limitations. He knew his body was still recovering and that he would have to take some time to let it do that, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

As he approached the door, he could see the lights on inside. He prepared himself for the 'surprise' as he turned the handle slowly.

"Surprise!"

Steve couldn't help it. His entire face lit up when he saw everyone in his house. For a long time, he had been anxious about inviting people to his home, given what had happened with Fuentes. He was starting to realise that it didn't matter where he was when people came after him. He couldn't let that stop him from living his life.

He was greeted eagerly by Chin, Kono, Duke, Kamekona and Max in turn. They all hugged him and gave him a pat on the back.

"Uncle Steve!" Grace Williams squealed as she raced towards him.

Steve kneeled down to her height and held his arms out for her to hug him. "Hey Gracie!"

"Did you like the surprise?" Grace asked excitedly.

Steve beamed at her. "I loved it."

"Good," Grace said as she grabbed Steve's hand. "You have to come outside now."

Steve looked back at Danny questioningly, who just shrugged in response. Steve let himself be led outside to his lanai. Steve stopped to take in the transformation. There was a whiteboard with photos of animals on it to the left and bright pink streamers hanging from the ceiling as well as pink balloons.

"Did you do all of this, Grace?" Steve asked the young girl.

Grace nodded eagerly. "Kono helped."

"Thank you. I love it," Steve said.

Behind him, Danny snorted. Steve rolled his eyes at Grace, who giggled. Sure, the pink was a bit much, but the sentiment was nice. Steve had never had surprise party before.

Before he knew it, Steve was being dragged over to the whiteboard and Grace was telling him all about her trip to the Honolulu Zoo with her class. She had remembered facts about all of the animals that she taken photos of and was excited to tell her favourite uncle.

Danny watched from the far end of the lanai as Grace pointed to each photo and then began a detailed explanation. He watched as Steve responded with a smile on his face and asked his little girl questions Danny was sure he already knew the answers to. The sight brought tears to his eyes. There was a time when he thought this would never happen.

As Grace neared the end of her show-and-tell, Danny could tell Steve was struggling to stay enthusiastic. If the man wasn't exhausted before, he had to be now.

"Alright," Danny said as he clapped his hands. "I think it's time for some food."

Everyone quickly found a place at the extended table and sat down. Grace made sure Steve had a seat next to her. Danny could almost see Steve's body melt with relief when he sat down.

Everyone was quiet as they ate the meal that had been prepared; a simple barbecue and salads of various sorts. The air was fresh, creating ripples on the surface of the sparkling water of Steve's beach. As people began to eat their fill, conversation started up again.

Danny sat back and absorbed the atmosphere. The sound of laughter reached his ears. He smiled when he saw Grace tip her head backwards in laughter at a joke Duke had just told her. Kono was smiling softly as she drank from her glass. Kamekona, Chin and Max were discussing something with great intensity. Danny decided it was best if he didn't know what they talking about.

Danny looked over to where Steve was sitting. He was sitting with both hands holding a glass in his lap. His eyes were drooping, but he had a small smile on his face. Danny was pretty sure the man was running on fumes and didn't want to ruin the mood. Danny decided to let him, just this once.

Standing, Danny went inside Steve's house to get another drink. Just as he reached the lanai doors, he heard a soft knock at the front door. Danny quickly walked over and opened it.

"Hey," Danny said.

"Hey Danny," Rodger Tillman said.

"How did it go?" Danny asked.

"Ari got home safe," Tillman said as he walked through to the lanai. "How is he?"

Danny glanced at Steve, who was now listening to Grace telling him another story. His eyes were sunken and dark around the edges. He had lost weight; his face had become more angular. The cast on his wrist stood out against his skin, which, thankfully, had regained its colour.

Danny sighed. "He's…okay, I think. At least physically. Mentally? Who on earth knows?"

Tillman shook his head humourlessly. "Right."

"I mean, he had issues after Fuentes. But this? This is different. He's actually been open about things. It's not like him. I'm worried," Danny said.

"Don't be," Tillman said.

"You say that like you know what he's thinking," Danny said.

"Because I do…I went through this with Steve the first time," Tillman said.

Danny felt like an idiot. "Right."

"It's okay, Danny. You just have to be there for him, especially when he doesn't want you to be. He'll be fine…he was before."

"Fine?" Danny almost yelled. "You call locking everything away in your head until you can't deal with it anymore 'fine'?"

"Danny," Tillman whispered. "That's not what he's doing. Why do you think he's talking to you?…It's because he trusts you."

Danny opened his mouth to reply with a witty retort, but found the words leaving him. It made sense. Even after Fuentes, Steve had talked to him. Then Danny had yelled at him for not talking to the psychologist. Now he really felt like an idiot.

"There's something I have to ask," Danny said.

"Yeah?" Tillman said.

"How does a guy like you end up owing someone like Steve so many favours? I know he's a good guy and everything, but seriously? How did Smooth Dog over there convince you of that?"

Tillman glanced over at Steve and smiled before looking back at Danny.

-Flashback-

He coughed harshly. His ribs protested to the action quite loudly. He barely suppressed a groan as he felt the bones grating past each other every time he moved. The dry heat caused him to cough more, which caused him to gasp in pain, which caused him to cough again. It was a vicious circle of agony and irritation.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, ran down his neck and back. His BDU's were soaked despite the lack of humidity in the room. Basement. No, dungeon.

He glanced around again, taking in the metal bars that denied him freedom. Outside of his prison were barren walls. All except one, which was covered in what he could only describe as torture instruments.

'Well, I've really got myself in a pickle this time,' he thought to himself.

He really should have known better than to separate from his team. He had let the woman lead him away from the group. He should have listened to his teammates, but she had been so convincing. He was so sure that she could lead them to the ambassador's kidnapped daughter.

Except it had been a trap.

Staring out of his dank cell, he realised that now. So, he was left with two options: he could wait for rescue or he could try to escape. He doubted the former would happen anytime soon, so he opted for the latter. The only question now was how was he going to do that?

Before he had a chance to formulate even part of a plan, there was a muffled rumble followed by some reverberations that caused the 'torture tools' to shake. He stood up, ready to face who or whatever came through the door.

It was suddenly quiet. Too quiet.

The silence was broken by the distant sound of automatic gunfire.

An exchange of gunfire.

If he was correct, that meant the cavalry had arrived.

There was silence again. The shooting had stopped. He stood motionless in his cell, waiting for whatever came next. Suddenly, the door slammed open and a figure entered the room. The person was tall, lean and armed to the teeth. In the dimly lit room, he could only see their outline.

"Commander?" the person asked.

His heart leapt when he heard the familiar voice. Of all the people…

"What on God's green earth are you doing here, Lieutenant?" he answered angrily.

"Coming to save your ass, Sir," the man replied cockily.

"McGarrett, I gave you specific orders—"

"What can I say? I disagreed with your orders," Steve McGarrett said as he inspected the metal cage.

"Where is the rest of the team?" Rodger Tillman asked.

"Uh…yeah, about that—"

"You didn't come here alone?" Tillman whispered harshly.

"Stand back," McGarrett said, ignoring Tillman's question.

He stood as far back as he could in the confines of the cell and watched as McGarrett raised a shotgun and shot the lock off the door. Within a second, the door was open and he was able to walk out.

"Jesus, McGarrett. What the hell were you thinking coming in here?" Tillman hissed as he followed McGarrett out of the room.

He stepped over the legs of a man in the hallway and saw two more lying face down on the ground up ahead. Evidently, McGarrett had left a trail of bodies in his wake.

Before McGarrett could reply, he held up a fist and crouched down low. Tillman followed suit and listened carefully.

"Stay here," McGarrett whispered before he ducked around the corner.

Another round of gunfire started. Tillman stood to go and assist McGarrett, but was grabbed from behind. His right hand was grabbed and twisted up behind his back and another hand was applying pressure to his neck.

"Let him go."

He had never heard LTJG McGarrett speak with such venom in his voice before. He had no idea where McGarrett had come from. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't hear any more gunfire. The pressure around his neck increased when McGarrett took a step closer.

"Drop the weapon," his captor spoke.

"No can do," McGarrett said. "You see, this man has an appointment to walk his daughter down the aisle in two weeks. He made a promise to her and I plan to let him keep it."

"Drop it, or he's dead," the man said.

"Don't do it. That's an order," Tillman growled.

"I've already disobeyed two orders today. You should know, Sir, that Captain Marsters is not happy," McGarrett pinned Tillman with an intense glare.

Tillman took the hint and elbowed the man with his free hand while simultaneously kicking at his knee. Tillman dove to the ground at the same time as he heard a gunshot. A moment later, there was a thud. Tillman looked behind him and saw his captor lying on the floor, a hole in the centre of his chest.

"I am going to assume you actually brought backup?" Tillman asked as he climbed up off the floor.

"Of course. Captain Marsters and the rest of the team is waiting at the exfil point. And he's really not happy with us, Sir," McGarrett said.

"Tell me something I don't know," Tillman muttered.

The two men made their way through the building and outside without encountering anyone.

"What were you thinking, going after this woman alone? Do you have any idea how long I had to lie under that truck for just to find you? You just promised your daughter to walk her down the aisle to get married to the love of her life and then you pull a stunt like this? What is the matter with you Rod…I mean, Sir?"

"How did you even know about that?" Tillman asked as he chased after McGarrett.

"I may have, accidentally, overheard your phone call the other day…There was no way that I was going to let you stay here, not when you had something important to do."

"Thanks…So, how much trouble are you in?"

"Let's just say I won't be getting paid for the next three months and leave it at that." McGarrett turned to face Tillman. "I'm not complaining though. It was worth it."

Tillman stopped and looked at Steve McGarrett, the young man he had been training. He had a feeling this wouldn't be the last 'stunt' McGarrett would pull.

"Thank you," Tillman said and found he actually meant it.

"Yeah, okay," McGarrett said. Suddenly, his face turned grey and his eyes widened. "Look out!"

Tillman felt himself being pushed to the ground and the sound of two bullets being fired from a gun. He heard the grunt of pain and wondered just who had been shot. He looked up and saw McGarrett kneeling, his gun pointed at something behind him. Tillman didn't even have to look up to know McGarrett had shot another hostile.

Suddenly, McGarrett's face became pinched as though in pain.

"McGarrett?" Tillman asked, climbing up off the ground for the second time that day.

"I'm good," came McGarrett's strained answer.

"Right. And I'm the pope," Tillman said sarcastically as he went to inspect his comrade. "Are you hit?"

"I think so."

He approached McGarrett, who had yet to move. He could see a patch of red staining his BDU's. It originated from…

"Are you laughing?" McGarrett asked.

Tillman choked down a laugh. "Well, nothing vital was hit."

McGarrett groaned. "Are you saying I got shot in the ass trying to save your sorry butt, Sir?"

Tillman could barely contain his laughter. "I think so."

McGarrett growled. "You owe me, big time."

'Yeah," Tillman thought as he dragged one of McGarrett's arms over his shoulders and hauled him upright. 'I owe you a lot.'

-End flashback-

"Let's just say that Steve quite literally saved my ass and because of his sacrifice, I got to walk my daughter down the aisle at her wedding. But that's a story for another time and a lot of beers."

"Oh, come on Rod. Don't leave me hanging," Danny begged.

"Is there any food left?" Tillman asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, help yourself," Danny said.

Tillman walked outside and greeted everyone before grabbing a plate of food. Danny sat down in his place next to Chin.

"So, Chin. Are you going to tell me how you started your lock picking phase?" Danny said.

Chin looked at Danny before turning to everyone else. Seeing their attention was suddenly on him, he smiled. "Well, I did say I'd tell you over a few beers."

Danny leaned back in his chair. "The floor is yours."

"Well, it all started one summer when I was fifteen," Chin told his attentive audience. "I'd broken curfew because I'd spent the night with my then-girlfriend. My parents found out…"