Notes: Huge thanks to Mari for the story idea, and to Mari and Sammy for the squeal-inducing feedback. You're the best, ladies!
Readers and REAL McRollers - Thank you for the amazing support! It is always appreciated.
Hope you enjoy!
Its Own Reward (A McRoll in the REAL World Story)
"Okay, now this time you can be Captain America and I'll be Thor," Michael said as he and DJ stopped running momentarily to switch up roles in their Avengers game. They were playing in the grass at a park near Michael's house while his dad read a book on a nearby bench.
"Okay!" DJ agreed. He stopped suddenly, spotting something near the walking trail that wound around the park. He pointed. "Hey, what's that?"
The two boys ran over.
"Oh!" Michael said. "It's someone's wallet." He bent over to pick it up.
"Wait!" DJ stopped him, holding out a hand. "Don't touch it. You'll get your fingerprints on it. The police might need fingerprints to find whose wallet it is."
"We need something to pick it up with," Michael said, looking around. He patted his shorts, but neither had anything in their pockets.
"I can use my sock!" DJ said. "There's only a little mud on them." He balanced on one leg, hopping around a little as he took off one shoe and removed his sock. He put it on his hand like a sock puppet and picked up the wallet as Michael's dad Nick approached the boys.
"Hey guys, what do you got there?"
"It's somebody's wallet, Dad."
"They must have dropped it," DJ said. "We should call my daddy. He can put the fingerprints in his big table computer and find out whose it is."
Nick smiled. "Or he can look at the ID that's probably in there and figure it out that way."
"But what if there's not a ID?" Michael insisted.
Nick nodded in acknowledgement. "Maybe there's not. Either way, that's a good idea to call the police."
DJ nodded seriously. "They're probably real worried 'cause they lost it."
"It might have all their money in it," Michael said.
"Or pictures of their kids like my daddy has in his wallet."
"You're right," Nick said, "I bet they are really worried."
"My daddy won't mind if we call," DJ said confidently. "He can figure it out real fast."
Nick smiled and took out his phone. He hit Steve's contact information and put the phone on speaker, then held it out toward DJ and Michael. "You guys found the wallet, you should report it."
DJ and Michael looked at each other excitedly.
"Okay!" Michael exclaimed.
The phone rang just twice before Steve answered. "Nick? What's going on? Is DJ okay?"
"I'm okay, Daddy!" DJ assured him. "We're at the park and me and Michael found a lost wallet."
"They're hoping you can help figure out who it belongs to so they can return it," Nick said.
"It's black and it looks real nice," Michael said.
"We picked it up with my sock so we didn't get any fingerprints on it," DJ told him.
"With your sock?" Steve repeated. "That was good thinking, buddy."
"Can you figure out whose it is with your table computer, Daddy?"
"I can drive the boys up to your office if that's all right, Steve," Nick suggested.
"That's great. I'll meet you down in the parking lot."
"Okay, we'll be there soon."
"Bye, Daddy!" DJ said. "We'll keep the wallet safe. Promise!"
"Yeah, promise!" Michael echoed.
"I know you will. See you soon."
When Nick pulled into a parking spot at the palace, Steve headed over to meet them. Michael got out of his side and ran around the SUV to open DJ's door so DJ could get out more easily while still holding the wallet in his sock-covered hand.
"He's kept it like that the whole way," Nick told Steve, fighting a smile.
"Here, buddy, drop it in here," Steve said, holding out an evidence bag he'd brought down with him. DJ dropped the wallet inside and then hugged him.
"I told Michael and Mr. Nick that you could definitely figure out whose wallet it is. They're probably really worried."
"I'm sure we can," Steve said. "Uncle Chin's upstairs ready to help."
DJ gasped, pausing in putting his sock and shoe back on. "Uncle Chin!" He looked at Michael excitedly. "My uncle Danno says he's the best at the table computer."
Steve grinned, tousling his hair. "He is."
"Are Uncle Danno and Aunt Kono gonna help, too?"
"They're up on the North Shore working on a lead for another case, but we can call them back if we need their help to solve this one," he replied, throwing a quick wink to Nick.
DJ nodded seriously. "Good."
"Let's head up," Steve said, nodding toward the doors.
"Wait'll you see, Dad!" Michael said as they headed that way. "It's so cool inside!" He beamed, thinking of his previous visit with DJ to tour Five-0 Headquarters.
"Is Officer Terry here today, Daddy?" DJ asked.
"He is. He's looking forward to seeing you."
DJ's eyes widened. "You told him we were coming?"
"Of course. I let him know you had evidence for an important case," Steve said, holding up the bag with the wallet.
"Officer Terry is really nice," DJ told Michael. "He wasn't here when you came before."
They made their way inside, stopping at the security gate where a young officer smiled in greeting.
"DJ, my man," he said, holding out a fist to bump. "How was your game last week?"
"Great! I got two hits and I got to play outfield and third base."
"The hot corner. Awesome."
DJ's brow furrowed in confusion. "It wasn't very hot. It felt pretty good outside."
Terry smiled. "No, sorry, that's a nickname for third base because a lot of hard hit balls come that way."
"Ohh. The hot corner," he repeated, trying the phrase out. He looked up at Steve. "Did you know that, Daddy?"
"I did," Steve replied with a smile. He nodded toward Michael and his dad. "Why don't you introduce your teammate and his dad?"
"Oh yeah! Officer Terry, this is my best friend Michael. He's in my class at school and he's on my baseball team."
"Inseparable, huh?" Terry said with a grin. "That's awesome. I had a best friend just like that when I was your age. Nice to meet you, Michael." He held out a hand for the boy to shake.
Michael gave him a big smile. "Hi."
"And this is Michael's dad Mr. Nick," DJ went on. "Sometimes he helps at our practices, especially if Daddy and Uncle Danno have a case."
"Nick Dyrek," Nick said, shaking Terry's hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Welcome to the palace." Terry smiled at the boys. "Speaking of cases, I hear you boys have some important evidence to turn in."
Steve held up the bag with the wallet. "We're headed upstairs to run down the owner now."
"Then I won't hold you up any longer." He moved to the other side of the gate and motioned to DJ. "You know the drill, DJ, come on through."
DJ confidently strode through the metal detector.
"All right, Michael, your turn," Terry said.
DJ waved his friend through behind him.
Terry nodded to Nick. "Sir, you'll want to put your phone and keys and any other metal in the bin there before you come through."
" 'Cause it'll beep, right, Officer Terry?" DJ said.
"That's right."
Nick deposited the items in the gray bin and then stepped through. Terry retrieved the bin for him and opened the outside gate for Steve to come through.
"Okay, Commander."
"Thanks, Terry," Steve said with an appreciative nod.
"Sure thing." He smiled at the boys and held out a fist to each for a bump. "Good luck solving the case, guys. Let me know what happens, yeah?"
The boys grinned proudly and replied together, "Okay!"
When they came through the doors to Five-0's headquarters, Chin was waiting for them.
"Uncle Chin!" DJ exclaimed.
Chin smiled broadly. "Hey, there's our newest deputies."
DJ and Michael's eyes widen at that, and they look at each other excitedly.
Chin held out a hand to Nick who he'd met a couple times at beachhouse parties. "Nick, good to see you again."
"You, too."
Chin winked at Steve. "Got a couple gloves for you here to examine the evidence, Steve."
Steve smiled. "Thanks, Chin." He set the bag down and put on the gloves, then opened it and removed the wallet. The boys watched him with rapt attention. Steve removed a driver's license. "Got an ID. Leonard Freeman II."
Chin looked at Michael. "How are your typing skills, Michael?"
"Good! I can find almost all the letters by myself."
Chin chuckled and nodded to a step stool he'd gotten from the maintenance department. "Hop up there and you can help me look up Mr. Freeman so we can contact him about his wallet."
Michael's eyes widened and DJ grinned excitedly for his friend, having gotten his own chances to use the surface table on previous visits.
Steve spelled out the name and Chin helped Michael with the keypad while Nick took some pictures with his phone.
"Is that him?" DJ asked when a copy of the license came up on the screen.
"That's him," Steve replied.
"And we've got a phone number," Chin said after a few more taps.
Steve smiled at the boys who looked up at him excitedly. "Then let's give him a call."
A half hour after Steve called, a security officer escorted an older man into HQ. Michael and DJ had been helping give Nick a tour while they waited, but once the security desk had called to let Steve know Mr. Freeman had arrived, they waited in the center of the bullpen, practically bouncing in place side by side.
Steve offered his hand to the man. "Mr. Freeman, I'm Commander McGarrett, we spoke on the phone. This is Lieutenant Chin Ho Kelly, also with Five-0."
"Your wallet, sir," Chin said with his customary warm smile and handed it to him.
Leonard took the wallet gratefully. "Thank you." He couldn't help but look a little awed at his surroundings. He turned back to Steve. "I know you said Five-0 on the phone, but I'll admit I was so happy to hear you'd found my wallet that I didn't quite make the connection until I got here."
Steve smiled. "Well, actually it wasn't me who found your wallet, sir." He stepped back and put a hand on both boys' shoulders. "This is my son DJ and his friend Michael. They found your wallet in the park this morning and immediately contacted me because they wanted to make sure whoever lost it got it back as soon as possible."
Leonard looked surprised at that. "Really?"
DJ's nod was a little shy but he spoke clearly. "We figured you'd be real worried, sir."
Leonard's expression softened into a smile. "That I was, young man. I've been tearing my house apart and retracing my steps all afternoon and I was so frantic I'd completely forgotten I'd taken a walk in the park this morning."
"DJ found it while we were playing Avengers and my dad brought us here so we could find you in the computer," Michael said with a quick glance over at his dad.
Leonard looked at Nick who gave him a smile and a nod.
"Glad we could return your wallet to you, sir. I lost mine in the house once and remember that sinking feeling you get in your stomach until it's back in your hand."
Leonard nodded his understanding of that exact feeling then looked back at the boys. "Well, let me just say thank you, boys. Not everyone would go that extra step of making sure it was returned. In fact," he opened the wallet and took out a couple of ten dollar bills, "if it's all right with your fathers, I'd like to give you a little reward."
The boys looked at each other and then at their respective dads who simultaneously decided to let them make the decision.
DJ and Michael looked back at each other for a moment before DJ leaned over and whispered to his friend. Michael nodded, then they both turned back to Leonard.
"Thank you, mister," DJ said, "but we don't need a reward. It was the right thing to do."
"Yeah," Michael agreed.
Steve, Chin, and Nick smiled proudly.
Leonard shook his head, his gaze flashing to the adults before returning to the boys. "Oh, but … really, this was no small thing. I keep a lot of important things in my wallet … are you sure?"
DJ nodded. "We're sure, but …" He bit his lip as a thought popped into his head, he leaned over and whispered to Michael again who nodded, this time more excitedly. DJ glanced at Steve who nodded, not knowing what he was going to say but trusting him. DJ looked back at Leonard. "If you really want to give a reward, maybe you could give the money to Uncle Duke– I mean, Sergeant Duke, er …" He looked up at Steve for help.
Steve smiled, realizing what DJ was going to suggest. "Sergeant Lukela with HPD," he clarified.
"Yeah, Sergeant Lukela," DJ said. "You could give the money to him for the Shop with a Cop program at Christmas."
"Shop with a Cop?" Leonard repeated. "I don't think I've ever heard of that." He looked at Steve who nodded to DJ to explain.
"It's this really great day when kids that need help getting Christmas presents and stuff for their family go shopping with police officers and service people from the Navy and Army and everything. And they don't have to worry about paying because Uncle Duke gives them the money that he gets during the year."
Steve smiled. "Not just Uncle Duke, there's a local non-profit that fundraises as well, but Sergeant Lukela is in charge of the event."
Leonard smiled, and reopened his wallet. "In that case, I think the reward should be double."
DJ and Michael exchanged excited looks. Steve nodded to indicate that DJ should take the money.
"We'll put it in an envelope to give to Uncle Duke," Steve said.
Chin nodded. "I've got one in my office."
"Thank you for the donation," DJ said sincerely. "It's really good for the kids that need help."
"Yeah, thanks a lot," Michael echoed.
Leonard smiled. "Thank you." He shook both boys' hands. "It's very heartening to meet two such honorable young people." He looked up at Steve and Nick and smiled. "You raised 'em right. You must both be very proud."
Nick nodded.
Steve smiled, putting a hand on DJ's shoulder. "More and more every day."
Leonard shook the adults' hands and then left with the security officer with another parting thanks.
Chin went to get the envelope from his office while Steve and Nick gave their sons' hugs.
"Was that a good decision, Daddy?" DJ asked.
Steve smiled softly. "I think that was a very good decision, buddy."
"I agree," Nick said. "Mr. Freeman is right." He looked down at his own son. "I am very proud of you, Michael."
Steve nodded. "That was very impressive. Both of you."
Nick nodded his agreement. "Doing the right thing is its own reward."
"It is." Steve smiled knowingly. "But you know, I'm getting a little hungry. I'm hoping the two of you won't say no to going for some shave ice?"
DJ and Michael exchanged an excited look and nodded emphatically.
"Let's go!" DJ exclaimed.
"Yeah!"
Steve grinned. "After all, solving your first case deserves a celebration."
Hope you enjoyed!
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