Steve believed the information James Okala had given them in trade for Five-0's protection for his family was their last chance. If it hadn't been for Gabriel's latest enticement of a trade that couldn't be dismissed out of hand, he would have been there already.

The light of the earliest morning sun was just beginning to create a glow as the black sky began to turn dark blue. They could now see the outside of the defunct swine farm's abandoned slaughterhouse building was cinder block that had been painted white. The chosen color, or lack thereof, was a subtle attempt to throw off the most unwitting observer with its deceptive illusion of purity, directly contrasting the building's purpose.

Though unnecessary, Steve laid his gloved hand on the hood of the Audi that was parked outside the building and felt the warmth. The four had already split to cover each side of the building in their prearranged plan. Adam and Kono were making their way to the back of the building. Steve and Chin would enter the front.

It was hard to tell for sure, but it looked as though a large dock door was wide open at the far end of the expansive building. However, because of where Gabriel's car was parked, they decided to enter through the same door they believed he would have entered.

They eased the door open and entered, checking in all directions. The growing light of dawn spilled into the large holding area to their left, confirming the open door, but as they could not waste any time, Steve believed they had made the right decision. It looked like they would be heading down the nearby steps where he could see artificial light filtering up. They listened intently for voices or sound before proceeding, but heard nothing.

The dark stairway led deep into the bowels of the deserted monstrosity. At the bottom of the steps, they found they had to wind their way past rusting conveyor belts, large stainless-steel industrial sinks, and pass through a handful of open heavy metal doorways, all leading to the only light source.

They stopped at the last door, taking a position on either side. They peered in to see what appeared to be a larger, more open area. It was probably not any larger than some of the areas they had just come through, but the space was missing the no-longer-utilized equipment and furnishings that the others contained.

There he stood, facing away from them in the center of the area.

~~~~~H50~~~~~

Adam and Kono had to hop a fence and wriggle their way through a small opening of a chained gate at the back of the property. They figured they had probably covered at least four or five acres just to get to the back side of the building. They kept close to the façade as they felt their way down the length, looking for their opportunity to enter without alerting anyone.

Noa Russell cursed to himself as he stepped in a depression in the ground causing him to almost turn his ankle. Even though it was still mostly dark, there was a little light from the newly awakening day, and he had instinctively looked to the overgrown brush surrounding the property to find some privacy from… no one… to relieve himself. He had turned back toward the building and was zipping his trousers when he saw the two moving figures as they prowled along the back wall.

He pulled out his gun and approached silently from an angle behind them. When he was almost upon them, he spoke. "Can I help you two?"

They both whipped around in their alarm. Kono, especially, chastised herself for allowing them to be caught by surprise. Neither had brandished their weapons yet as they were wanting to find access before doing so. They slowly raised their hands in the air. They knew trying to come up with a cover story would have no merit as they were wearing their vests, plainly labeled with their "Five-0" patches, but just for kicks, Kono answered, "Hey, no need for that. We've been out at the clubs all night with friends and one of 'em dared us to come out here. We're just looking for a little alone time." She winked at the confused looking man before adding, "if you know what I mean."

"Nice try, lady. Lead the way. We're heading back around to the front. My boss will want to speak with you."

Kono and Adam looked at each other, knowing he meant Gabriel.

~~~~~H50~~~~~

Gabriel had not heard them. He was holding his hand over his bleeding wound and was heaving in air as if he had just run a race. Steve recognized the behavior as rage and figured that could give them an advantage.

Steve gestured his intention and direction to Chin and they silently flanked their target from behind.

"Gabriel Waincroft…"

Gabriel's heavy breathing stopped and he stood up straight.

"…put your hands behind your head and get on your knees," Steve ordered.

The best Gabriel could do was to raise his arms halfway. He turned around slowly, not wanting to give them a reason to shoot first, ask questions later. He saw Steve and Chin at his two and ten, both with their handguns trained on him.

"Hello Chin… Commander…"

"I'm gonna assume you didn't hear me… on your knees, hands behind your head," Steve tried again, speaking slowly and distinctly to leave no room for misunderstanding.

Gabriel ignored him and addressed Chin. "You disappointed me, Chin."

"Gabriel, you need to do what McGarrett said."

Steve allowed the interaction but he began to grow impatient. As he looked down his sights for his shot, he tightened his grip in preparation.

"I don't think so," Gabriel brazenly countered.

"Don't make this harder on yourself," Chin pleaded.

"I'm not. Things are very simple. You need to put your weapon down." He turned his gaze to Steve. "You, too, Commander, or my brother-in-law is about to feel a breeze between his ears."

Chin felt the muzzle against the back of his neck. If he could become any more still, he did.

Steve quickly glanced to his right to see a thin, older man holding a gun on Chin. He and Chin maintained their stance.

"Tell your man to stand down," Steve ordered. "We've got two guns to his one."

"Maybe so, but 'his one' will be the first to fire and the first to hit."

"Don't listen to him, Steve," Chin urged. "He's messin' with you."

"Simon?"

"Yeah, boss," the man behind Chin answered.

"I'll take you out first. You know I will," Steve promised Gabriel.

Gabriel ignored him. "Simon, if he shoots… or on my count, I want you to put a bullet through Lieutenant Kelly's head."

"Got it, boss."

"Put down your weapons." Gabriel still had his hands in the air as he spoke.

"Not happening," Steve spoke determinedly.

"Simon, one…"

"Gabriel." Steve shifted his feet.

"Steve, don't." Chin could see Steve's wavering in his peripheral vision.

"Commander, are you sure you want to be responsible? Two… Last chance."

A couple more seconds ticked off and at what he thought was the last second, Steve conceded. "All right. All right," Steve said a second time in a lower tone. He decocked his gun and turned the barrel up, offering the grip to Gabriel.

Chin closed his eyes in realization that, once again, his tormentor had gained the advantage. He slowly lowered his arms to his side and Simon was able to slip the gun from his hand.

"Now isn't that better?" Gabriel took the offered weapon from Steve. "We can actually talk now." He secured Steve's gun in his waistband at his back. "Let's see, what was it you were saying? Oh, yeah, on your knees, hands behind your head? Let's try that."

Steve and Chin shared a look and hesitated.

"Come on!" he reinforced.

Steve made the move first and Chin followed as they both slowly complied.

"Ah, much better." Gabriel put his hand back over his wound and then looked past the men to a new arrival. "Well, Piper, I'm glad you could finally make it."

"I came as soon as I got Simon's message." Piper took up a stance beside Simon with his gun drawn as well.

Gabriel ignored the excuse and addressed Steve and Chin. "Geez, you all are like a bunch of damn Energizer Bunnies. You just don't quit. How did you find me this time? You know what? It doesn't matter. I don't even want to know." He took a few steps while he spoke, deliberately displaying his complacency. "Now where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?"

"Where's Detective Williams?" Steve asked, tired of Gabriel's rambling.

Gabriel abruptly stopped his pacing and snapped his fingers. "That's it. Detective Blondie… How did you know? Ron!" he yelled out. "What's taking so long?" Gabriel squatted down in front of Steve. "You know, we were just getting ready to have a payback celebration."

Steve glared at him.

Gabriel smiled back at him before looking over at Chin. "You had your chance. I told you something like this would happen. Why didn't you just bring her to me and we could have avoided all of this? I mean, you went so far as to bring her to the island. Did they get in your head?" He turned a thumb toward Steve.

"You're an idiot," Steve mumbled.

"What did you say?" He turned back to Steve.

"You're an idiot," Steve said it louder. "She was never on the island."

Gabriel looked shell shocked for an instant but immediately covered with an exaggerated laugh. He quickly calmed and drawled out, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Gabriel, I never brought Sara back to Oahu. She's been with Abby on the mainland the whole time," Chin informed.

Gabriel stood. "My guy saw her. You're lying… again."

"He's not," Steve added. "Your guy… saw my niece and made some wrong assumptions."

Now, Gabriel glared at Simon standing behind the pair. "Is that true?"

"No, no, it's not true," Simon defended himself. "They're the ones who are lying. I saw her."

Steve chuckled out loud. "That's what you get for not checking the facts… or at least getting better goons to work for you."

Gabriel had lost his smug smile. The rage began to build again as he realized they were telling him the truth. "Where was it that my bullet hit you, Commander? Was it here?" His own gunshot wound long forgotten, Gabriel landed a punch to Steve's abdomen.

Steve felt the white-hot flare burn like a dagger into his stomach. He yelled out in pain and doubled over at the force of the blow that came close to his still-healing injuries. His arms reactively dropped and covered his abdomen. Gabriel allowed his change in position temporarily.

"Steve!" Chin yelled out. "Gabriel, stop! It's me you're angry at. Remember? You've got to know I wouldn't have turned her over to you."

"She's my daughter, Chin."

"Not anymore."

"Ron." Gabriel said the name as he took a long step backwards, continuing to stare down at his two new prisoners. "Ron!"

"Right here, boss." Ron came through one of the doors at the far end of the larger room. He held a length of rope in one of his hands. "Just had a little trouble…" As soon as he saw the situation, he stopped in startled awareness. "Everything okay here?" He quickly absorbed that the two Five-0 men were on their knees and under Gabriel's control.

"We're fine," Gabriel snapped impatiently. "Where is he?"

Steve looked up, knowing who Gabriel was referring to. The pain from the hit morphed from sharp and intense to registering as nothing more than a dull ache when his attention was diverted to something now more important. He sat up straighter in anticipation.

"Yeah, like I was saying, I had a little trouble cutting him down, but it's all good." He added a second hand to the rope trailing behind him and pulled. Danny's arms appeared first as he was drug from an adjoining room. Ron continued to strain against the dead weight as Danny's entire body was revealed.

"Danny?!" Steve planted a foot on the floor in preparation to stand. At seeing Danny's lifeless body, he could not restrain himself anymore.

Gabriel glowered at Piper as he held Steve's shoulder down to prevent him from standing. Steve skillfully swept his leg under Piper's bringing him to the floor on his stomach. Piper's gun slipped from his fingers as he hit the ground and Steve dove for it.

Simon maintained a stalwart hold on the back of Chin's shirt as he again connected the muzzle to the back of his neck, preventing a joint impassioned effort.

"Stop!" Gabriel yelled out louder than he'd wanted to. Steve's fingers were on the gun, but he still managed to steal a glance toward the source of the order giver. This time, Gabriel had pulled out Steve's firearm that he had just deposited in his waistband and was pointing it toward Danny's motionless body.

Steve froze. Breathing out a sigh of acquiescence, his head dropped to his chest. Knowing that one wrong move could mean the end of his brother, he crept his way back to his spot and once again slowly eased into his position on his knees. He then wrapped his hands around the back of his neck. Piper secured his weapon and scrambled back up to his feet, resuming his former position.

When Gabriel was satisfied that he had regained control, he spoke. "Really stupid, Commander."

Steve hated… loathed the fact that he was in a helpless position. His breathing was shallow as he couldn't get his lungs to cooperate. His rage mixed with the lack of air movement in the stuffy basement and fueled the heat that seemed to develop from deep within his body. He briefly registered his stomach's queasiness before compartmentalizing his own physical infirmities and concentrating on what was playing out in front of him. He maliciously leered at Gabriel with expressed defiance.

As things settled, Gabriel appeared to see the condition of his prisoner for the first time. "Shit, Ron, what did you do? Is he already dead? Cause I wanted to have that privilege."

Steve's muscles tensed and his jaw clenched. He saw Danny lying mostly on his stomach with his arms still outstretched ahead of him. The red marks around his wrists with streaks of blood running away from his hands validated to Steve that he had been callously strung up by his arms.

His upper body was bare, which bore out what he had witnessed earlier that evening with Danny's double sporting his blood-stained shirt. Bruises marred a large portion of what he could see of his torso. The object of his last observation, however, evoked the slightest, imperceptible and fleeting partial grin. The familiarity of the conspicuous bright green and yellow argyle socks on Danny's shoeless feet offered a hint of distraction to this fubar jam they had found themselves in.

"Nah." Ron held tight to the rope but gave it some slack. He pushed Danny lightly with his toe. "Hey, wake up," he tried. Danny's body rocked from the impetus but did not come to. Then Ron kicked him a little harder.

Danny stirred. "All right, already," he grumbled.

"Danny?" Steve ventured, encouraged by his partner's awakening.

Chin nervously looked to his left, concerned that Steve again would not be able to hold it together. With the movement, he felt the gun push against his head with the intention of reminding him of the threat behind him. "Gabriel, you need to stop this. Steve, take it easy."

"No, go ahead Commander. See if you can wake him up?" Gabriel taunted. "He needs to join the party."

Steve remained on his knees with his hands clasped behind his neck. He ignored the amusement Gabriel was having and spoke to his partner across the room. "Danny? Hey, buddy. You okay? You with us?"

~to be continued~

\,,,/BronsonL