"Damn it." Danny's phone buzzed as soon as he had one foot outside the vehicle. The display showed Steve's name. "Fantastic timing, partner," he spoke to himself. "Sorry, but not now." He hovered his thumb above the decline button. Thinking better of his initial reaction, he went ahead and answered the call. "Hey, everything okay?"

"I should be asking you that. Tani said you bowed out of work."

"I'm working. Just following up on a lead."

"What lead?"

Danny got out of the car and hurriedly crossed the road, stopping behind a large, dark green dumpster not far from the door that he had seen Chin enter. He maintained a casual tone as he continued the conversation. "Let me check it out first and then I'll let you know."

"Danny…"

"Has the doctor been in?" he quickly deflected, wanting to get off the line but needing to get there in a normal way. "Is he ready to kick you out yet?"

Danny heard Steve huff out his frustration and he grinned. "Yes, he's been in. Everything's good. They had me walking down the hall earlier this morning."

Danny scurried closer to the door, looking in all directions to see if he had been seen by anyone. "You walked down the hall. I'm proud of you, buddy. What's next, a 5K, a marathon? No wait, the Ironman. Really though, if you keep this up, they'll think you can take care of yourself." He tried the door handle and it was open but he didn't go in. "You won't be getting the sponge baths from the nurses anymore."

"Danny, are you sure everything is all right? You sound a little off. You're trying to be quiet. Aren't you? What's going on?"

"Yeah, yeah, just saw my annoying neighbor, Roy. I'm trying to avoid him so he doesn't ask to borrow the hedge clippers again. Took him three months to return them last time."

"Where are you again?"

"Here he comes. Gotta go. I'll be by later." He pushed the door open and walked in the school.

~~~~~H50~~~~~

"Danny!" It was too late. Danny had already disconnected from the call. "Damn it, Danny. What are you up to?"

The nurse came into his room and heard the last bit of the conversation. "Ooh, hope everything's okay."

"Oh, yeah, sorry 'bout that."

"No worries," she pardoned. "Time to clean the incisions and change out the bandages."

"Didn't someone just do that?"

"That was two hours ago and you've been napping since your walk."

"All right, but can you give me a minute? I need to make another quick phone call."

She went to the far side of the bed and pressed buttons on one of the machines. "Looks like you're going to need another bag for the pump anyway. I'll give you your minute and be right back."

"Maybe two?"

"Maybe two," she agreed.

Steve dialed Jerry who answered right away. "Commander McGarrett, hi, uh, what's up? Uh, what can I do for you?"

"Jerry, I need you to do me a favor. Can you check Danny's GPS and let me know where he is right now?"

"Sure. Everything all right?"

"It's fine. I just talked to him, but he… you know, just track him down for me, okay?"

"Well, his GPS says he's at his ex's address."

"Rachel's?"

"Yes, sir. That's where it's showing. I can trace his phone if you want."

"Yeah, that would be good. Go ahead and do that. I'll call Rachel. Just let me know."

He immediately made the call. "Rachel? Hey there, it's Steve."

"Hi, Steve. It's good to hear from you. You sound well. Are you doing better?"

"Getting there. Hey, Rachel, is Danny there? Can I talk to him? He's avoiding me."

"He's not here. I thought you knew. He borrowed my car this morning."

"He did what?"

"Yes, I think he was using it on a stakeout or something. He didn't tell you?"

"No, he did not. Do you know where he was going?"

"He didn't tell me, but whoever he was following must know him. Not only did he want to trade the Camaro for my car, but he had his old ballcap and sunglasses."

"Hmm, okay. I'm getting another call. I'll check in with you later."

"Okay, take care."

"Thanks, Rachel." He dropped that call and answered the other one. "Jerry, what 'cha got?"

"So, he's not anywhere near Rachel's place. I show his phone in Whitmore Village, up near the pineapple farms."

"Can you get Junior or Adam or Chin or somebody to go up and check on him? He seemed pretty cryptic when I talked to him."

"Junior's headed to see you at the hospital and Kono's with Tani at HPD headquarters. Chin didn't come in this morning either, but I just saw Adam around here somewhere. I'll get him to go."

"Wait, Jerry, Chin didn't come in either. Where's he?"

"Not sure."

"Trace his phone, too. Danny was trying to hide from someone that knew him. Makes me wonder."

Jerry was able to get the information from the powerful computer at The Palace quickly. "Interesting."

"Jer, what is it?"

"Chin's phone is showing at… Whitmore Village."

"What the hell? All right, send Adam up there. I'll call and tell him what I know when he's on the way."

"Copy."

~~~~~H50~~~~~

Danny had heard the muffled voices coming from down the hallway. He followed them to outside two large double doors that were labeled as the school's gymnasium. He strained to listen to the conversation on the other side.

"…I'll be in touch soon." He recognized the voice. Then he heard Chin's distressed cry out to Gabriel. Danny charged through the door, unaware of what he would be met with or how many of Gabriel's goons would be on the other side. What he did know was that his friend was alone and, by the sound of it, in need of an ally.

Danny had to shield his eyes from the bright light that flashed from the narrow window in the exterior door as it crossed the path of the sun when the door clanked shut. Gabriel was nowhere in sight. He had missed him. With a quick assessment of the area, he saw only two people left. One man was crouched on one knee above Chin who was lying on the ground, his last movement merely a twitch before becoming motionless. He removed his hand from Chin and placed his elbow on the bent knee to aid him in standing.

In what felt like slow motion, Danny saw the man rise. Even through the scruffy red beard, he could see the satisfied smile on the man's tilted head as he saw Danny. In one fluid motion, the man dropped a syringe from his fist and reached behind him to the protrusion printed at his back waistband. Because of their close proximity, Danny's instinctual, more than mental, decision was to prevent the draw and his body reacted.

The man was small in stature, similar to Danny, but stocky, so he aimed low. He successfully took him off his center of gravity and found they were both on the floor. The heavier man used his size and was able to gain a positional advantage and manipulated Danny below him while still trying to get to his weapon. Danny wrapped both hands around his wrist after the man had managed to pull the pistol free.

Danny kneed him in the stomach and the blow allowed him to roll the man onto his back. The gun slid off the man's fingertips and across the floor. Both were able to make it to their feet as they traded punches. On one punch to the man's midsection, Danny was off and grazed his right side. His opponent was able to take advantage of the misjudged momentum and swung Danny around into a headlock. Danny coughed and gasped as he struggled to get free. He felt he was quickly losing the ability to breathe, but in one last surge of adrenaline, he released his hold and his fight with the arm around his neck and drove an elbow into the man's side. He heard a grunt and felt a loosening of the man's grip. He tried again and the grip loosened even more.

He was now able to get a modicum of air. With the rejuvenation, he took the man's arm in both of his hands and propelled himself forward toward the floor taking his attacker over his shoulder. Finally, being free and taking advantage of his attacker's stunned state, he tore at the top buttons on his shirt as if that would improve the flow of oxygen into his lungs. He then backed toward the gun that lay on the floor, one deliberate step after another. He kicked it in the opposite direction of the supine man and finally pulled his own from its holster to gain full control of the situation. With one hand holding his P30 toward the downed man and one hand on his knee, he heaved in air and noticed what he couldn't have a few seconds before, that his heart was pounding, his muscles were already protesting, and bright red drops were splattering on the shiny wooden floor below him. He swept his left hand across his upper lip and then examined it to see his nose was the source of the blood.

"Danny?" The call was distant, but he heard it again and again and each time it became louder and clearer. He recognized the voice as Adam's. Both of the doors burst open as Adam surged through the center of them. "What the…"

"Adam! I got this! Chin! Help Chin!" Danny had holstered his gun and after getting the man in cuffs, took a moment to shake the pain and stiffness from his already damaged hand.

Adam stood in shocked silence a moment as he surveyed the scene. "Yeah… on it. You all right? You sure you're all right?" he yelled over as he made his way to Chin and pulled out his phone.

"I'm good. How is he?"

Adam knelt beside Chin and felt for a pulse. He was relieved to find a strong, healthy heartbeat under his fingertips. He immediately called for an ambulance and rolled Chin over to try to revive him. Unlike Danny, Chin's outward appearance was relatively unscathed. His breathing was steady, and besides being unresponsive, he seemed to be unharmed.

Adam repeated his name and lightly slapped one side of his face and then the other to see if he could get any reaction. There was none. He accepted that he was relegated to waiting for the medics. As he did, he kept a watchful eye on Danny who, despite his haggard looking state, was doing an adept job of securing the one that must have caused this mess, even though he still didn't know what this mess was.

"Adam? How's Chin?!" Perturbed, Danny repeated his question.

"Seems okay. Just out of it," he answered in a perplexed tone.

"Syringe. The guy had a needle. Do you see it?"

Adam had to twist around to see behind him when he didn't see it in his nearby vicinity. "Yeah, got it!" He had gotten up and procured the syringe and held it up for Danny to see.

Danny moved from beside the man to facing him and maneuvered him up against the padded wall with his forearm to the man's throat. "What was in that?" No answer afforded the still unidentified man a strong left cross. "What did you give him? What was in that syringe?" he demanded.

Danny pulled back to give him another wallop, but the man cringed and relented. "All right. All right. He'll be fine. It was just a fast acting but mild sedative meant to knock him out so we could get away. He should be waking up soo… well see, there you go." The man lifted his chin toward his victim since he didn't have the use of his hands to gesture.

"Chin, buddy, you okay?" Adam started talking as soon as he saw Chin reach his hand to rub his forehead and then to his sore neck. His eyes opened next.

"Adam? Where am I?" He turned his head to one side then the other, appearing to be concentrating on a basketball goal hanging from the ceiling. As soon as he recalled what had happened, he jolted up onto his elbows and attempted to sit up.

"Whoa. Take it easy." Adam laid a hand on his shoulder to implore Chin to settle back and take things slower.

Accepting the forced position for now, he stayed put and sought eye contact with Adam. "Gabriel. Where's Gabriel? He was just here."

"Gabe… Gabriel Waincroft was here?" Adam expressed his shock, but Chin was determined and demanded his attention first. Instead of trying to hold him down, Adam helped him sit up. "Go slow, okay? You were drugged. Give it a minute."

Sounds of sirens brought not only medics, but also HPD units. In no time, the four men were joined by a host of uniformed officers and medics. Before conceding his spot to a technician determined to check out Chin, Adam eagerly sought out more information. "Looks like you two have a lot of explaining to do, but for now just tell me where he went."

Danny had handed off Gabriel's man to one of the officers. As he walked toward Chin and Adam, he called out to the officer, "Get him to the basement at The Palace. I'll be there soon." Then turning back to address Adam's question, he pointed to the back door. "Went through there, but he's long gone by now."

Adam ignored the comment and seeing that Danny and Chin were in good hands took off in a jog towards the door. "You're wasting your time!" Danny yelled out. Adam disappeared through the door.

Danny sighed in resignation at Adam's determination and then shook his head in abject refusal and swatted the air to wave off a medic when she tried to offer assistance. "I'm fine. Just a few cuts and scrapes. Take care of him." He pointed to Chin who was now on his feet and doing a good impression of Danny warding off the help.

The graying man that was trying to help Chin and coax him into a ride to the hospital bent down and picked up his kit. "Let's go Jules. Obviously, we're not needed here. You Five-0 people are so daggone stubborn." The younger female medic reluctantly followed his lead.

Chin and Danny were both a little surprised that he had given up so easily and almost in unison blamed one name, "McGarrett."

~to be continued~

\,,,/BronsonL