Disclaimer: Magnum PI and all characters belong to CBS and their respective creators. No profit is being made here.

Category: Gen/Friendship, Hurt/Comfort, Angst

A/N: A reviewer of the Magnum PI 2018 reboot once wrote: You can't watch an episode without a huge grin on your face. Boy, was he right.

Set between Season 2 episodes Blood Brothers and Day I Met the Devil, this story started as a light piece showing Magnum through his friends' eyes but morphed into something heavier along the way. Any similarity in plot, places, and characters is purely coincidental and entirely by chance. As always, reviews are loved so please do let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!

Much love to sHoT for coming out of retirement to beta this for me. XOXO!

Note: Italics denote flashbacks or thoughts.

Chapter 1

"You're like a magnet for danger, Magnum. Why is that?" – Juliet Higgins

.

"Hold still, Magnum," Juliet Higgins admonished but without any real heat as she gently peeled back the blood-soaked cloth to inspect the knife wound on her partner's left flank. It took some doing but she finally convinced him to sit down. As a result, he was currently perched on the edge of a small wooden bench while she assessed his injuries.

"Higgins, I'm fine," came the dismissive reply even as the man in question puffed out an exhausted breath. He seemed barely aware of her presence as he watched HPD round up Larry Beck and the last of his men from inside the house and surrounding compound.

Crouched beside the private investigator, Higgins inwardly shook her head at his predictable answer, taking in the cut over his right eyebrow that was still bleeding sluggishly, and the darkening bruise on one side of his face. She'd once said that danger followed him but, after today, she was sure Thomas Magnum was a magnet for trouble as well.

She'd only been away for about 48 hours – for a friend's wedding – but judging from the chaos around them, he'd been busy. From what she could gather, Magnum not only took down a smuggling ring, he also managed to identify the mysterious mastermind behind the whole enterprise. Studying his bruised face, she wondered if he'd gotten any sleep during the last couple of days – he looked worn out. However, she suspected that this case wasn't entirely to blame for his current condition or state of mind.

He'd been a little distracted ever since he and the guys helped rescue Ahmed from human traffickers earlier this week. The day after they'd said their goodbyes to Paulie and the young Afghan boy, she'd caught him staring into space more than once, lost in thought.

She could hardly blame him. It was clear that, despite his joy of seeing Sebastian Nuzo's older brother again, the man's very presence had allowed some memories of Nuzo's death to resurface. Except for that day when he'd asked for their help to locate and trade a counterfeiter for Hannah's father, he never mentioned it again – at least, not to her – but Higgins sensed that Magnum still held himself responsible for what happened to his best friend and fellow SEAL, more so after he learnt of Hannah's role in the case that got Nuzo killed.

Before she left two days ago, she briefly considered calling Rick or TC to Robin's Nest, but then Magnum had informed her that they'd been asked to investigate a cheating spouse. She'd readily agreed, hoping that a simple case would help keep him busy and take his mind off of things while she was away.

She'd forgotten – when it came to Thomas Magnum, nothing was ever simple.

Receiving a short, garbled text from him, instead of a call, when she'd returned home to Robin's Nest earlier that day had set off an internal alarm. Her unease had only increased when he failed to answer when she'd called back. After a quick trace and a brief call to Rick, she'd arrived at Magnum's location to find him in the middle of a fight with a guy almost twice his size.

Pressing the makeshift bandage back onto the wound, Higgins raised an eyebrow. "I'll have to disagree, Magnum – you're definitely going to need stitches."

Magnum finally turned his focus from the flurry of HPD activity before them to peer down at his partner, wincing as her gentle ministrations caused the dull and stabbing pain at his side to flare up excruciatingly. "Higgy… stop, please..."

Juliet met tired and pain-filled brown eyes and her own softened. Lowering the edge of his blood-stained shirt, she sat back on her heels and stated evenly, "I saw how hard Beck's bodyguard kicked you. And that was before you went flying through the window..."

"It was an open window," Thomas quipped, ignoring his pounding head, his hand once again pressed against his injured side. "No glass–"

"I think you're missing the point there, buddy," a familiar voice interrupted his explanation and Thomas' eyes lit up as he caught sight of the newcomers.

"Hey, fellas," he greeted with an easy grin as Orville 'Rick' Wright and Theodore 'TC' Calvin walked up to them. "Where'd you guys come from?"

"Hi, gents," Higgins smiled and allowed TC to pull her to her feet for a quick hug.

"Hey, Jules," Rick beamed at the majordomo before turning his attention back to his trouble magnet of a best friend. "Well, the T-alert went up so we got here as fast as we could." He glanced around, taking in the scene. "Though it looks like we missed out on all the action."

Juliet turned away to hide her smile as the private investigator tilted his head to one side and squinted up at his brothers. "T-alert?"

"Higgy called and said you were in trouble," TC explained, chuckling at the puzzled look. His expression grew serious. "Why didn't you call us if you needed backup, TM?"

Magnum ran a tired hand over his face, a soft hiss of pain escaping him as his fingers accidentally brushed against the cut. "The plan was to take some photos – wasn't expecting a death match with the biggest guy on the payroll."

The way his breath hitched slightly at the end of his sentence left Juliet with a worried frown and Rick and TC exchanging a troubled look.

Noting their reaction, Magnum quickly added, "Look, guys, quit worrying. I'm fine."

Rick's sharp blue eyes narrowed as he mentally catalogued the smaller man's various injuries. At least, the ones that were visible at this point. His eyes went to TC, who dipped his head at him, brows furrowed. Nodding in silent agreement, Rick took hold of Thomas' arm and slowly pulled the injured PI to his feet. "Okay, time to go."

Too tired to follow their nonverbal discussion, Magnum allowed himself to be helped up, hoping that no one would notice that he was leaning a bit heavily on the other man. "Where… we goin'?"

"Hospital – to get you checked out," TC answered for the former Marine door gunner. He didn't like the way Thomas was slurring his words ever so slightly or how he'd swayed a little as he stood up, even with Rick's steadying presence beside him.

Thomas' standard protests died on his lips when he caught sight of the determined look of both men's faces. He turned to Higgins for help, only to get a scathing They're right, don't be an idiot look from her. His head dropped in resignation.

"What about the Ferrari?" Rick stopped short, catching sight of the red car. "Uh… no, Tommy, you're not driving."

"But I'm f–"

"I'll get it back to Robin's Nest," TC offered, interrupting the PI. "Higgy baby, meet you there?"

Higgins nodded, giving TC a thankful smile before turning back to Rick. "You'll keep us updated?"

"Count on it."

"About time," Detective Gordon Katsumoto declared as he walked up to the small group, barely suppressing a grin at the expression on Magnum's face. "I tried getting him checked out earlier but he refused."

Rick and TC exchanged a long-suffering look before replying in unison, "Welcome to the club."

Katsumoto eyed the private investigator critically. "He might have a mild concussion, judging by that bruise."

"The cut's pretty nasty, too," TC pointed out – a bit too helpfully in Thomas' opinion.

"I'll wager some bruised ribs as well," Higgins added, rolling her eyes when the man beside her let out a loud dramatic sigh.

Rick raised an eyebrow. "Don't forget about that gash on his side..."

Magnum gaped at his friends. "Guys! I'm standing right here. And I'm fine…really."

"You know, I could place him under arrest if you think that would help," the homicide detective offered, ignoring the hapless PI.

"Thanks, man, but we've got this," Rick replied, grinning. He turned to his now somewhat grumpy friend. "Let's go, buddy – before the cuffs come out..."

"Traitor…" Magnum muttered under his breath but allowed himself to be lead towards the Porsche by Rick, with TC and Higgins following close behind.

Katsumoto couldn't help but laugh as he watched them go. Magnum must be in more pain than he was letting on – he rarely gave in so easily. Ordinarily, the private investigator would be on the other end of that conversation and the HPD detective didn't have to look further than his own experiences for an example. More often than not, Gordon found himself helping the PI in one of his insane ideas despite firmly telling him No from the very beginning.

Magnum might be a pain in the ass most times but Gordon had to admit that he'd come to regard the incredibly good-natured and decent man as a friend, despite denying it whenever it was brought up. He could still remember the dread he'd felt that day on the bridge, when he and the rest of HPD had rolled up to the overturned truck, the stolen Iraqi gold scattered all over the road. For a second, he was sure the PI was dead – he was so unnaturally still. It was only after he saw Magnum in the hospital later that day, alive and talking, that the HPD detective finally drew an easy breath.

Since getting to know them over a year ago, Gordon realised that there was a lot more to the tight-knit bunch than they allowed the rest of the world to see, especially the former US Navy SEAL. One thing he knew for sure, after witnessing the three men and Higgins in action – he was glad they were, mostly, on the right side of the law – he didn't even want to imagine the havoc they would wreak with their combined smarts and skills if they weren't.

"Get some rest," he called out once Magnum was seated in the passenger seat of Rick's car. "I'll check in with you tomorrow for the rest of your statement."

Receiving a wave of acknowledgement from the private investigator, Gordon waited until the cars were out of sight before walking back to the house. He shook his head in bemusement as a thought struck him. Here he was, returning to yet another crime scene that once again, for some inexplicable reason, involved one Thomas Magnum, PI.