Can you believe it?! I'm sticking to a schedule! Happy Friendiversary to Tracey450! Can't believe we've only been writing together 4 years! Thanks to everyone for reading my stuff. Double extra special thanks to those who've commented,too. I hope you all enjoy this chapter...


Lou was bored. Sitting there with his son was like watching paint dry. Steve had ordered him not to leave the hospital. They were running blind, and Will needed protection. Not that Lou didn't agree. He just hated feeling cooped up.

So he couldn't be blamed for what came out of his mouth. "Boy, I hope you used a condom."

"Lou!" Renee slapped her husband's arm.

"What? No glove, no love." Lou wasn't deterred. "We've had this conversation. I make sure my son is prepared."

Eyes wide, Will did his best to disappear.

"Come on, they're practically adults." Lou defended himself.

Renee shook her head. "I don't think this is appropriate -"

"What are we supposed to talk about, Renee? Hmmm?"

She glared, arms crossed tightly. Holding back.

Lou stoked her fire. Getting the death stare was better than being bored. "Should we discuss how our son's girlfriend is missing? Kidnapped from her bed? How our son was found in his skivvies?"

"Hey, I tried to stop - " Will blurted, eyes welling up with tears.

Softening, Lou rubbed his son's shoulder. "Son, no one's blaming you. Honestly besides the birds and the bees stuff, I'm glad you were there. Without you, we wouldn't have any leads."

"That's right, baby." Renee moved closer to the bed, voice low and soothing. "You rest."

"I can't rest." Will sat up straight with a wince. "Grace is out there -"

"What are you gonna do? Lead the search? We've got it covered. Everyone is out looking for Grace."

"But it's my fault."

Will was so sure of his words that Lou paused and studied him before asking. "And just how is it your fault?"

"I pressured her."

Time stopped for a few seconds as both parents pinned their son to the bed with a combined icy stare.

Lou took a step back. "You what, now?"

Will stumbled on his next words. "I - well - I guess it was both of us. But-"

"But what? You better spill it, right now, young man." Renee leaned in close. "I raised my son better than-"

Squirming, Will didn't make eye contact with his parents. "We were curious...about sex...you know."

"Oh I know." Renee rolled her eyes at her kid and then turned to Lou. "I told you this would happen."

She smacked her husband again.

"Why you hitting me?" Hands up, Lou opened himself up for more whacks. He had it coming. Always did.

"You're his father." The obvious answer.

Will jumped in. "I thought we should do it before college."

"And what did Grace think about your idea?" Lou crossed his fingers the answer was yes.

"She agreed."

The entire room sighed with relief.

Wrinkling his nose, Lou frowned for a second. Half confused. "So then there was no pressure?"

"Thank you, Jesus." Renee looked away, closing her eyes, biting back tears. They were all on an emotional rollercoaster.

"Why would you lead me on like that? Danny would have your head if he found out you - hell, Danny will have your head no matter what for touching Grace."

"Don't tell him." Will blurted.

Lou and Renee both laughed.

"Son, what you may not realize in your hormone haze -" Lou chuckled. "See your mom and me - believe it or not - we were your age once. Danny, too."

Renee added. "What you and Grace did - it's normal. But her father-"

"I thought her place was best. No one was home. And we-"

"Will," Lou raised his voice. "You better stop talking now. Your brain is misfiring."

"But Grace." Tears streaked Will's bruised face.

Renee swooped in and gathered her son gently in her arms. "You rest. Grace will be alright."

Lou put his arms around his wife and son. "All we can do is pray."

Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket.

/././

Guns drawn, Steve and Danny stood over one of the worthless pieces of shit who kidnapped Grace.

"Grace Williams! Where is she?" Steve bellowed. Glances at Danny told him he'd better do the talking.

Danny twitched, chest heaving, face contorted in anger. A monster on a leash. Grace was the one thing saving the idiot's life.

"Don't know who that is, man." The guy shrugged, smug smile on his face.

"I know you." Mouth open in disbelief and anger, Danny caught his breath. "You work for my plumber. Mother fucker."

Hands flexing, Danny spun around and circled Steve and their suspect, muttering to himself. Steve needed to bring him back to Earth. "Plumber? Danny, that was months ago."

"He's the guy's helper. He came back last week to fix –" Danny didn't finish his sentence.

The guy started laughing. "You're daughter's pretty tasty."

"What did you say?" Steve barely said the words before Danny fell on the guy.

"Tell me where she is!" Hands on the guy's throat, Danny was a man possessed. He squeezed to get his point across. "Tell me now!"

"Danny!" Steve yelled, grabbing his partner. "Stop!"

Steve pulled Danny off, eyes meeting for a few seconds before Danny backed off. With a rough jerk of the zip-ties, Steve restrained the asshole, rubbing his face into the cement floor.

"So you do know her."

The guy coughed. "I might."

"Goddamit, tell me where my daughter is!" Danny kicked him in the ribs.

"Alright! Stop, I can't take it." The man whined. "She's about five miles from here. Condemned farm complex. There's an old warehouse. Place is up for auction. Seemed like a good place to stash her."

"Stash her?" Danny kicked him again. Harder this time.

Steve jerked his partner away and then shouted orders to HPD who were waiting outside. They could button things up. He ran to catch up with Danny, who was already outside. They climbed into Kamekona's waiting chopper.

"Come on, let's get Gracie." Steve shouted above the rotors.

/././

New Jersey…2009…

Grace clutched a pink bunny. Her favorite stuffed animal. A gift from her father. It was stained and missing an ear. But she didn't care. Her mom kept tossing it in the trash.

The night was warm but a breeze from a bedside fan kept things comfortable. Lightning flashed and she fought back tears. Her Danno was out there somewhere. He wasn't coming home that night. Or maybe not ever again.

She and her mom were moving to Hawaii. A place she'd never been. So far away it felt like another planet. She'd promised to be brave.

She didn't care about beaches and sunshine. Stan was nice but he wasn't her dad. Grace wanted her Danno.

/././

Present day…

Grace woke up with a start. She'd been crying and her eyes were puffy and sore. A headache had been lingering for hours. The dream didn't soothe her.

Her dad would come. Uncle Steve would come.

She wanted to believe it. Had to believe it. Grace repeated the mantra, though now it only made things worse. She couldn't take it anymore.

But then -

Something was different. There were voices. She told herself it was just the seagulls. But no - Grace heard someone yelling.

Then gunfire.

Heart racing, she backed into the corner of the room, shaking.

Was this the end?

/././

Seconds later…

"Monkey? You in there? It's Danno." Danny shouted. "Talk to me. Please Grace."

He crumpled a little when he didn't get an answer.

Nudging his best friend, Steve called out. "If you're in there, Grace, get away from the door. We're coming in."

Steve shot the lock and threw back the door. Danny burst into the room, blinded by the dim light at first.

"Dad? Uncle Steve?" A soft voice greeted him. Music to his ears.

"Grace." Danny gathered his daughter in his arms. His mind went blank, and he didn't know what he was saying. "You okay? Are you hurt? God, it's so good to see you. Are you real?"

"Danno." Grace cooed and melted against him. Tears soaked through his shirt.

Steve stood guard, again the sentinel. He hardened. Not relaxing til this was over.

"Steve."

He didn't move.

"Earth to Steven."

"Danny?" Worry surged again in his voice. "Is Gracie okay? The bus is on its way."

"Get over here." Danny waved him over.

Steve stepped into the embrace, completing the circle.

"Thank you, Danno." Grace murmured. "Thank you, Uncle Steve. Knew you'd come."