Author note:
Hello, everyone. English is not my first language, so be easy on me. Thank you all for your support. All feedback are appreciated.
Have a nice day.
Ethan quickly took responsibility to assure his friend. "Listen, Matthew. It's okay. We didn't know who was it. We still can fix this."
Matthew was too transfixed in the situation that he couldn't even react to his friend's reassurance. One thought kept suffocating him again and again.
'What if he had used the gun Steve had given him? He could have killed them. He could have killed two HPD officers.
Chris seemed to read his mind as well. "Matthew, you could have used the gun but you didn't. You made the right decision given the circumstance we are in. Don't beat yourselves up."
"They are just passed out. They will be okay." Ethan said as he knelt and checked the officers. The medical knowledge he learned from his father came in pretty handy. "Awesome, they have two-way radios." Ethan smiled for the first time that night. "Lets' see if there is anyone on the other side."
Ethan took the radio in his hand and stood up. Matthew flashed the light and Ethan studied the item in his hand.
"This is it." He mumbled before he pressed the button and spoke. "Hello, anyone there?"
-H50-H50-H50-
"Clear!"
The all-clear had been given and Danny signed softly. There was no sign of Steve or the boys in the cabin. Danny knelt beside the bodies they found in the main areas. He examined the tattoos on their arms.
"Cartels?" Tani questioned. Danny nodded and stood back.
"Danny," Junior called as he walked back in to join them in the main area of the cabin. "There is something you should see."
Danny and Tani followed Junior. Reaching to a room, Junior swung the door open and gestured them to enter first. Danny held his breath when he saw the bloodied bandages and gauze on the table near the bed.
"I guess the boys were able to give Steve some first aid before the lunatics break into the cabin." Tani voiced out.
Danny chose to remain silent as his jaw tightened. His eyebrows snapped together as his face tightened as well. Danny knew Steve was trained for these kinds of situations. Danny had no doubt about Steve's ability to handle the situation but he couldn't stop himself from worrying about his friend's well being. Between having to take care of himself and protecting the boys, Danny knew what would be Steve's priority and to be honest, Danny would chose the same thing.
Danny turned back to the others in the room. "We have to double our speed, Steve would be expecting us and I don't want to let him down. Let's regroup and see where we can go next." Danny said and hurriedly left the room. Junior and Tani followed him.
"Danny, I got the boys on the radio!" Duke came running with the latest development. "They want to talk to you."
A sense of relief washed over Danny. Without missing any second, he caught the radio passed by Duke and spoke. "This is Detective Danny Williams." The reply came a few seconds later and finally, Danny could see a ray of hope.
"Thank God. Detective, my name is Ethan. Commander asked us to call you and get help. The cartels are trying to kill us. You got to hurry up."
"Okay, calm down." Danny eased the boy who spoke in a rush. "First, tell me where is Steve?"
"We all left the cabin after two guys broke in but after a while, he said the cartels were closing in faster then he expected so he stayed behind to distract them and asked us to run and get help."
Danny closed his eyes for one moment as he sighed softly. Although it was painful to hear, he expected nothing less from his friend. Typical McGarrett's behavior, he thought to himself.
"How is he?" Danny asked as he anxiously waited for the answer.
"Not good. He need help fast, like really fast. How fast can you get here?"
Danny exchanged a worried glance with the others before he spoke. "We are actually in the cabin right now."
"Get out through the back door and head west. We don't know the exact spot, but west direction was where we were together before we left him."
"So I'm assuming you guys are further to the front of him."
"Yes."
"I'm going to pass you back to Sgt. Lukela. He's gonna help you. Good job, boys." Danny spoke in rush before he handed the radio back to Duke, nodded and gestured the rest to follow him.
Taking the radio back, as he watched Danny and others leave through the back door, Duke asked the question that had been intriguing him.
"How did you boys found this radio?"
"About that … we did a thing."
-H50-H50-H50-
Tani and Junior followed Danny's grueling pace without any complaint. Danny could feel his heart throbbing inside his chest but he refused to slow down.
Danny held up his hand, gesturing them to stop and they did. He turned behind and pressed his finger against his lips and cocked his head slightly to one side. Danny took a few steps to the front carefully and hid behind a tree. Tani and Junior followed Danny's movement and hid behind nearby trees.
In a distance, they could see Steve on his knees with his hands tied on his back. Danny could not gauge Steve's injuries from the distance but Danny knew his friend was not good, Steve's body posture and movement was telling Danny more than he needed. Danny studied the situation in front of him. There were six men and they were too busy making fun of Steve.
Danny backed off and gestured Tani and Junior to come closer. The two moved close to Danny and waited for instruction.
"They are distracted which is good," Danny whispered. "We gonna flank them. Junior, take my right and Tani, you, my left. Wait for my cue, we will take them out at the exact same time. Make no mistake."
The two younger members took the instruction and went to take their position. Danny moved further to the front but kept his distance.
-H50-H50-H50-
Another fist edged closer to Steve's face. It hit his jaw with such as a force that blood pooled into his mouth. Before he recover from the pain, his head was grasped by a pair of hand and a kneecap came up to his nose. There was a blunt crack and blood leaked from both his nostrils. Another round of fist to his stomach and Steve was on the ground. His chest gently rose and sank with each shallow breath he drew in.
"I got to say, I'm impressed with your ability to keep up, Commander."
Pain was increasing in waves as their evil laughter filled his ears. For a second, he thought a bullet would be mercy but he refused to let them win.
Just when he thought he was too weak to continue, his eyes spot the movement. Honestly, Steve was a little scared to believe, what if his mind was playing a trick on him? Then, he saw it again.
There was still hope.
Steve pushed himself up with every bit of energy left and spit the blood. Slowly, he spoke. "You know… how I said things would get better?"
The guys stopped laughing and concentrated on Steve.
Breathing deeply, Steve spoke, "The court proceeding will go on Monday and the witness will testify against your boss. Too bad you guys won't be there to see it in person." Steve finished with a smirk on his face.
The cartel members were surprised to see the sudden spirit in Steve. "Shoot them, Danno!" Steve shouted before he pushed himself down and braced for the shootout.
One by one, shots ran out and bodies began to fall heap on the ground near him. Six shots and Steve finally breathed in relief. He turned to his back awkwardly as he could not free his hands.
One second and Danny's worried mixed with anger face filled his blurred vision.
"Really Steven? I have to babysit you even on weekends now? I leave you half-day alone and you couldn't keep your sorry ass safe and sound."
Danny's rant was music to his ears.
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