It was a slow trek through the building and up the stairs. Kono was doing the best she could, but both men were spent and together they could only progress as fast as their slowest link. At this point, that was Danny, but Steve was not far behind.

One push with his foot didn't get the door to open enough. It took a harder kick to make it fly open enough to get out before it would swing back to hit Kono who was on that side. All three of them involuntarily squinted as they stepped into the young day, a day much different than when they entered the abandoned slaughter house. The sun was still low and rising, angled in front of them to cause the blinding effect. However, they didn't need their eyesight to hear the deep rumbling of the oncoming truck and the screeched stop once it had passed them by and made it inside the structure.

"What was that?" Kono asked as the trio paused to adjust their vision in the direction of the noise.

"I'm not sure," Steve answered, trying, ineffectively, to at least display some confidence as he fought against yet another dousing of his flickering hope. They were finally out of that hellish basement and help was in reach. What could this latest development mean?

The large truck was now out of sight but two black sedans sped past them, en route toward the building. One stopped outside the loading door that was wide open. The other stopped further back, in the shade of some trees.

"Steve?" Kono voiced her concern over what was happening.

"Come on, let's get to the vehicles." They began their slow trek again. Steve's muscles were burning from Danny's weight. He wasn't sure if Danny was even conscious any longer as it felt like Danny's body had relaxed and the little bit of effort that he had been trying to put in to help was gone.

Steve and Kono had both been keeping a watch on the stationary sedans. No one had exited. They just sat there and waited… waited for something.

As they were nearing their own cars, they saw one person run out from the building and jump into the closer of the two sedans and seconds later another followed and did the same. That car, with its new passengers, backed out and sped away, again passing the three struggling to make it to their own mode of transportation and eventually, to help. The other car stayed put, as though still waiting for something.

"Kono! Steve!"

They both stopped in their tracks and looked to see Chin sprinting toward them. When he got closer, he slowed so he could be clear in what he needed to tell them.

"Chin! Are you okay?" Kono saw the crimson imprint left behind from Gabriel's palm.

Chin looked down to see what she saw. "It's not mine," he dismissed. "We got to get out of here. The place is going to blow."

"What?!" Kono exclaimed.

"Here, Steve, let me take over." Chin could see Danny was out of it and Steve was barely running on fumes.

Steve welcomed the relief. "Be careful with his arm. His shoulder is dislocated," Steve informed Chin and then he let him seamlessly slide into his position.

"Chin. Steve. What about Adam? Where is Adam?" Kono pleaded, not expecting them to know an answer.

"He's not with you?" Chin anxiously inquired.

"No!" Kono yelled. "He chased after one of Gabriel's men and we haven't seen him since."

"I'll go," Steve stated matter-of-factly.

"Steve, that truck. It was loaded down with explosives. I don't know if it's on a timer or if they have a detonator, but that whole place is going to be rubble anytime."

"We can't just leave him in there!" Kono again pleaded as she readjusted her grip on Danny.

"I said, I'll go," Steve said, this time with a little more force. He had already started back in the direction of the door they had come out of.

"Steve!" Chin yelled after him. "Here," he said to Kono, "let's get him down." He and Kono began to ease Danny to the ground. "Slowly. Caaareful." Once they had Danny safely on the ground, Chin instructed Kono, "Stay here. Stay with Danny. We'll get him, cuz."

Kono's eyes were wide and tears began to brim and threaten to fall. "Hurry, Chin. Hurry… and be safe!" she yelled after him knowing her words were for her benefit more than his.

Chin was easily catching up to Steve, who had yet to make it back to the building at his labored gait, when Adam rounded the right corner of the building. He was right behind, and in control of, two of Gabriel's men. Both men had their hands restrained behind them. He pushed the man known as Simon forward, urging him on in impatience. The other, Noa Russell, sporting a crooked jaw and a mouth oozing blood, was moving on without any encouragement.

"Adam!" Steve shouted toward him in relief. "Thank God. A load of explosives was just dumped inside. We've got to get out of here."

Adam did a quick head count. "Where's Kono?"

"She's waiting for you back there. She's with Danny," Chin let him know. "We've got to go. Now!"

Adam gave another quick push to Simon's shoulder, but Simon and Noa were already running away from the building in fear. Adam was right behind them as they made their way to where Kono and Danny were. Chin hung back to proceed at Steve's slower pace, but they were not far behind.

Kono stepped up from her position on the ground beside Danny as they neared. She wrapped her arms around Adam in a grateful hug, which he returned.

"Save it," Steve ordered as he made it to Danny and getting Chin's help, lifted him up. "Come on, we've got to get out of here."

Adam sobered and looked to Chin after a recollection. "Gabriel?"

Chin shook his head. "He's not coming out."

Adam solemnly nodded, feeling a little numb, but knowing they presently did not have time to get more answers.

The remaining black sedan now pulled out of its shaded spot. It did not travel with the urgent speed that the other had. As it passed them by, the rear window was lowered and the passenger made eye contact with Adam and then fleetingly glanced next at Kono, Steve, then Chin. He then rolled up the darkened window and the car accelerated to get away from the property.

The force of the explosion came first, knocking them all face down on the ground. The sound of the blast was a fraction of a second after that. Steve was able to catapult himself in Danny's direction and cover his body with his own to protect him.

Simon began yelling expletives as his ears were ringing and he wanted to cover them but couldn't. Steve and Chin looked back at the building and a follow-up series of smaller blasts made them shield their faces in the ground once again. Burning fragments and debris landed around them.

Even with the roar of the fire and the intermittent cracking and crashes of the failing remains of the structure, it felt like an eerie silence enveloped them. The last blast had shut Simon up and the others were left speechless.

The sound of far-off sirens, that were obviously drawing nearer, broke the counterfeit silence. The black and whites arrived first, followed by a couple of unmarked cars outfitted with blue lights. Chin got up slowly and wrapped his hand around Noa's arm and hoisted him up and then did the same for Simon. Adam stood and reached a hand to Kono and helped her to her feet. Steve stayed down, beside Danny, partially from physical fatigue and partially from desire to stay close to his brother. He rested his arm on his bent knee while he rubbed the smoke and grit from his eyes, trying anything to overcome some of the debilitating weariness.

"Danny. How ya doin', buddy? You still with me?" He lowered his hand from his eyes and ventured a look, but he got no response. He wasn't expecting any but was hopeful nonetheless. He breathed out a disappointed sigh and turned his attention to a black Buick, one of the unmarked police cars that had arrived. Lou was easing his way out of the passenger side and what must have been the driver, an Asian man in a blazer partially covering a two-tone, but still flamboyant, floral shirt underneath, rounded the car from the far side to assist him, if needed. Steve saw a badge flash on his waistband and figured he must be an HPD detective. Lou waved away the detective's offered help with a cantankerous expression and some words that Steve was sure were colorful, although unheard by him due to the distance.

While the other officers could do nothing but stand around staring at the scene dumbfounded, Chin handed Simon and Noa off to one of the uniforms that was thankful for any productive assignment. Lou and the detective approached the group, making an odd pairing as the detective had an imperturbable quality that contrasted with Lou's current agitated state of mind.

"McGarrett!" Lou zeroed in on both of his superiors that were still down on the ground, not yet understanding their status.

"Lou!" Steve yelled out to him. "Get an ambulance here, now! We gotta get Danny to the hospital."

"And you, too," Chin added, though unsolicited.

"Already done," Lou reassured. "They're right behind us." As if on cue, two medical emergency vehicles, followed by two fire trucks pulled into the chaos of the cars, cops, smoke, debris, and activity.

Steve could see some of the officers being distracted from their watch of the burning building and point in Danny's and his direction after they were asked about injured parties. A couple of med techs headed their way. Then the officers shook their heads at the ones who stayed behind, most likely in response to if there were any others requiring medical assistance.

"Ey! Over here! Over here! He needs help!" Steve shouted to them. "This is it. There's no one left."

The technicians swarmed around both of them. "Him first." Steve pushed away one of them that had knelt down to help him.

"But, sir…"

"Him… first," he firmly and slowly reinforced, finally moving away from Danny so they could get to him.

"'kay. Got it," the young, dirty-blond EMT acquiesced.

Chin clasped Steve's hand and helped him to stand. "His shoulder is dislocated. Be careful," he informed the techs as he brushed the dirt from his hands.

"Sorry about the timing, but I'm going to need a statement," the HPD detective stated.

"Can't this wait 'til later?" Lou tried, obviously put off by the detective's impatience.

"I need to find out what happened here. Who was involved? Was there anyone in there when that thing exploded?"

"Look, Katsumoto…"

"Lou… it's alright," Steve said as he held up a pacifying hand to Lou. "I'll tell you what you need to know. I'd feel the same way if I were in your shoes." Holding his left arm protectively over his stomach, Steve reached out his hand to the detective. "I'm Commander Steve McGarrett. This is my team, Five-0." He quickly shot a look back at Chin, Kono, and Adam and then over toward Lou. Chin and Kono shared a quick glance and partial grin at the inclusion.

The detective accepted his handshake. "Detective Gordon Katsumoto. Nice to meet you. Can we?" He looked over to see Danny was being loaded on a stretcher in preparation for transport. He knew he didn't have much time with the head of Five-0. "Can we speak over there?" He nodded to a spot away from the others.

Steve looked toward the activity around Danny. "You've got two minutes. I'm going with him."

"Understood," the detective conceded.

"Uh, Detective." Adam stepped up. "I may be able to give a little more insight. May I?"

"Detective, this is Adam Noshimuri," Steve introduced.

"Noshimuri? Noshimuri, as in Hiro?"

"My father."

"I see. And you're with Five-0?" Katsumoto asked glancing at McGarrett with skepticism.

"That's right. It's a long story," Adam confirmed. "However, all that does kind of come into play. There's a lot more backstory as to why we were here and I'm sure you'll be hearing all about it, but I think I know who is responsible for the explosion."

Adam hesitated and lowered his gaze to the ground. He had recognized the man in the car that had driven off prior to the blast. He knew who it was. He and that man's daughter had grown up together. Their families had been friends in Japan. And now… he knew that Hajime Masuda was responsible for the explosion and Gabriel's death. Gabriel was now, finally, out of their lives for good.

"Well? What do you know? Who was it?" Katsumoto eagerly awaited his answer.

Steve, too, was intrigued by this new information but was also antsy. He kept looking back at the medics and the ambulance and knew he was going to be leaving soon. "Adam?"

"It was the yakuza."

"The yakuza," Katsumoto parroted. "Do you have any more? A name, maybe? Something?"

Adam had changed his mind. He would not divulge Masuda's name to the police, not that Masuda would be affected in any way. The yakuza was on a different plane when it came to distancing itself from law enforcement. There were too many safeguards in place. Masuda would not have risked his revelation to Adam if he did not feel comfortable in that security. However, Adam chose to keep it to himself anyway.

"Uh, no. No names. I just recognized faces I've seen before."

Steve looked at Adam and knew he was not being forthcoming with all he knew. He deflected, "Look, I gotta go." He pointed a thumb back towards the ambulance. "Adam, can you, Chin, and Kono give the detective all he needs?"

"Yeah, sure, of course," Adam answered.

Steve locked eyes with Adam, letting him know he understood and giving unspoken permission to continue how he thought best.

"Commander, I'll be in touch to follow up," Katsumoto added.

Steve nodded and started to walk away.

"Hey, Steve," Adam called out to him. "We'll be there later. Get yourself checked out and let Danny know we're all thinking about him."

"Will do," Steve answered with a muted grin.

"All right, no names," Katsumoto accepted the lack of information as he got back on course. "Can you, at least, tell me what happened in there and was anybody in there when that thing went up?"

"I can give you the background and the events leading up to this incident. Chin Ho Kelly, over there, will have to give you details on what happened inside. And as to was there anyone inside? Yes, yes, there was one person inside."

~to be continued~

Anyone like my surprise guest?

\,,,/BronsonL