Thanks for all the wonderful comments, follows and favorites. I appreciate it a lot!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything of H50.
As the Hawaiian man in front of him raised the gun, Danny was sure he saw him give an evil smile. Without a second thought, Danny ducked to the side and dropped to the ground behind the closest car, barely avoiding the open fire. The attackers fired several shots as he hunched on the ground and reached for his gun. He peeked from behind the car and returned the fire, but none of the bullets hit the two men. He knew that, within seconds, the attackers would be upon him, if he didn't move. The stairwell that Danny used to enter the car park was directly adjacent to the exit ramp. But there was another set of stairs at the end of the car park, about forty yards away.
Crouching low, Danny began to move in that direction, moving between the parked cars. The whole place was completely deserted except for Danny and the two men. There was no sign of the woman Danny had seen earlier, and the sound of gunfire was probably keeping any other people away.
He heard another shot ring out and flinched as the bullet narrowly missed him, embedding in the body of a nearby car. He didn't risk looking behind to see where the attackers were. Using only instinct, he moved quickly to the other end of the car park, keeping low. He needed to find a cover to try and get a shot at them. He heard voices as the two attackers gave each other orders, but they were too quiet for Danny to tell what they were saying.
Danny reached the far end of the car park and stopped behind a large Audi. All that stood between him and the stairwell was about six yards of open space. If he was quick, he could make it without getting shot. But if these guys are any good, they must have known that was where he was heading. And if they were ready, it would be an easy shot for them to make.
He sneaked a glance around the rear bumper of the Audi, looking out, back toward the exit ramp. He made out the figure of the leather jacket man about ten yards away, out in the open, his gun held out in front of him. Danny didn't wait another second and aimed his gun, ready to shoot.
And then the sound came. The gentle rustle directly behind Danny. He turned around with a gun pointed in the direction where the noise had come from. But he was aiming at thin air. And he was now staring down the barrel of the other man's pistol.
They had cornered him and the broad smile on the man's face suggested they knew it.
"Keoki, come over here. I have him," the man said.
"Good work, David," the Hawaiian man said, coming into view.
Are these Bennett's men? Danny wondered.
"Well, hello there, Detective Williams," David said. "Going somewhere, are we?"
"Was just doing some sightseeing," Danny replied, trying to appear unfazed.
"Funny guy," Keoki said, not looking at all amused. "Drop that weapon or we'll drop you."
"You could have shot me already," Danny mused. "So could your friend. He sneaked right up behind me, but he didn't shoot. So I don't think you're going to shoot me now either."
"We don't have to shoot to kill. I could stick one in a leg for example. Drop your weapon or I'll shoot you."
Danny did as he was told, reluctantly sliding his P30 across the floor. Keoki stepped over and picked it up.
"Now your phone," David ordered. "And don't try anything."
Danny took a phone out of his pocket and slid it across the floor too.
"I presume you're Bennett's men," Danny said. "Just who I've been looking for."
They didn't answer, but Danny saw the glint in his eye. He was sure these were Bennett's men. They must have known where Steve is.
"Stand up and keep your hands above your head," David said.
Danny again followed their command. They might have the upper hand for now, but he was sure they would give him an opportunity to turn the situation sooner or later. For a moment he even considered letting them take him, hoping to bring him to Steve. But he was sure they would use it against them. It wouldn't help Steve in any way. No, he needed a plan on how to get them and then get the location out of them.
"So are you taking me to see Bennett?" Danny asked.
Keoki and David ignored the question. David still had his gun aimed at Danny but Keoki was holding his down by his side. He was looking around the car park as if trying to determine their next move.
"What, you're not speaking to me now?" Danny said. "By the way, how are you two dumbasses going to get me out of here, huh?"
Keoki sighed, turned to face Danny and threw a fist into his gut. Danny doubled over, the wind knocked out of him. The blow had hurt Danny but with his head still hunched over, he couldn't help but smile. He'd been right. These two might have been good enough, or lucky enough to have cornered him, but they didn't exactly think out their next move.
"There, we'll take that car," Keoki said, nodding over to a black Mercedes. "It's an old one, it'll be easy."
The two attackers began to move. Slowly they edged forward, their guns aimed at Danny the whole time. Danny followed the direction of their movement, one step after the other. They reached the Mercedes and David once again raised his gun to Danny's head. For the first time, Keoki dropped his aim as he moved toward the car, but he never let his eye contact with Danny go. Still facing Danny, he delivered a single blow to the window with his right elbow. The glass shattered. Keoki reached in through the broken window frame and unlocked the door. He opened the door and finally broke eye contact with Danny as he climbed into the car. Keoki ducked his head down, as he hotwired the car. For the first time, Danny had only one attacker watching him.
He was still deciding how to make a move when there was a banging sound behind him as the door to the stairwell opened and shut. David instinctively looked over to see what the noise was. It was all the invitation Danny needed. He dived forward, low and rolled into David's legs. He sent him straight up into the air and then down to the floor. Danny was onto him immediately, placing a knee firmly into the back of David's neck. He picked up David's gun, which had fallen to the floor.
Danny heard a putter as the Mercedes' engine came to life. He looked up at the car to see Keoki in the driver's seat, staring at him.
The car lurched forward in his direction and Danny pulled up the gun. He fired two shots as he dived out of the way. Both bullets hit the car's windscreen.
Keoki didn't stop the car and continued forward, rolling over David, who let out a loud scream. Danny readjusted his aim as the car began to reverse. He fired another two more shots, but both missed Keoki.
Danny dived for cover again as the car swept past and headed towards the exit. He fired at the car again but it only hit the metal. Frustrated, he got to his feet. He desperately wanted to go after Keoki, but he had no chance of catching him.
He hurled David's gun away in anger. A sound of screeching tires caught Danny's attention. It was coming from the exit ramp. It was the Five-0 team blocking the exit just before Keoki managed to get out.
"Five-0," he heard Lou screaming. "Get out of the car with the hands where we can see them!" They surrounded the car with the guns pointed at the driver, who eventually gave up and got out of the car.
Once he was sure Keoki had been taken care of, Danny headed back to David who was laying on the floor since the Mercedes ran him over, his limbs twisted and bent awkwardly. He didn't look good but the movement in his chest told Danny he was still breathing.
"Danny, are you all right?" Adam asked as he and Tani rushed toward him.
"I'm fine," he answered, panting. "Can't say that about him, though," he pointed to David on the floor. "He needs an ambulance."
"Man, I think you spent too much time with McGarrett," Lou's voice made him lift his gaze. "And you call him a trouble magnet? You can't even get a coffee without all this. It's just a five-minute walk!"
"Do me a favor and complain about his bad influence on me to that animal when we find him," Danny said, a little amused by Lou's comment.
"What happened?" Tani asked.
"Bennett sent these two to invite me for a visit," Danny answered.
"I can see you politely refused the invitation," Lou grinned.
"Well, it seems like you got us something better than coffee," Catherine mused, satisfaction in her voice was obvious.
"Yeah, interrogating these two will keep us awake."
Steve's head came out of the darkness when he heard the voice. It was like a mist clearing in front of him. He was being spoken to, it was a familiar voice. But he wasn't sure why she was asking him his name.
It took him a moment to think why this time something felt different. And then it clicked. He was not tied up to the chair anymore. He laid on his stomach, the floor felt cold against his cheek. His wrists and legs were free of any restraints for the first time since they had brought him in. But why?
The world before Steve's eyes was like a dream that he wasn't even a part of. Groaning, he lifted his head from the cold floor and struggled to push himself on the elbows. Gritting his teeth, he managed to sit up, his back leaning against the damp wall. He held his shaking hands up to his face, trying to regain his senses.
His arms felt so heavy, as though lead weights hung from his wrists. His brain was on fire, his chest in agony. Every part of his body ached. He gritted his teeth, tried not to think about it. But the inner fight didn't last long this time.
A couple of minutes passed, everything was slowly fading away. The world seemed to calm, the gritty noise of screaming inside his head fading away from him. And then there was nothing but the burn of the serum in his veins. The panic was gone. The anger was gone. The fear was gone. All the bad things were gone.
A fuzzy silhouette of a person was kneeling beside him. Esther. He expected to feel the sting on his arm, as every time she was there. He expected the unbearable pain to come back. But it didn't come this time. Steve felt Esther's fingers on his cheek. "Tell me how you feel. Are you ready to follow the instructions?" she asked.
The instruction was good, the purpose followed. It soothed the unbearable burn on the serum in his brain.
"Yes," Steve whispered.
A big smile stretched over Esther's face. "Good, because I need you to do something for me."
Danny and Catherine were walking down the hospital corridor once again, looking for the room of one of Danny's attackers. Danny was eager to make him talk, no matter what. As they entered the room, passing two police officers guarding the door, David glanced over them and sighed. He looked bad but he was alive. That was good enough for Danny.
"David Carter," Danny said. "Good to see you again."
"I can't say the same, Detective," David answered, gritting his teeth. "I should have shot you when I had a chance."
"I agree. You should have, but you didn't," said Danny.
David didn't answer as his gaze moved from Danny to Catherine. "And who is this pretty lady?" he smirked. "I don't see a badge."
"Someone who can kick your ass if you say anything stupid," Catherine answered.
"If I were you I'd try not to piss her off," Danny warned David. "Trust me, don't mess with her."
"What is she your girlfriend?" David smiled mockingly.
"No. No, she's not," Danny allowed himself a slight smile. "She is dating only the animals, you know? A tough lady. So I suggest you cooperate."
"Where is Steve McGarrett?" Catherine asked straight away.
David sighed and turned his gaze onto the ceiling. "I don't have to tell you anything. I want a lawyer."
"Where is he?" her voice raised.
"She is spicy, I like her," David told as he turned back to Danny.
"All right, listen to me. You either speak or I'll leave you alone with her and trust me, you don't want that," Danny said with a calm voice.
The grin on David's face grew even wider. "How do you know? Maybe I'd like to spend some time alone with her."
Danny laughed mockingly, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Trust me, you're going to regret this sentence." He exchanged glances with Catherine, catching her slight nod.
"Okay, David," Danny said. "I'll give you one last chance. You said it yourself, she doesn't wear a badge, she is not a cop. She's from the CIA. I've heard they can be very persuasive. So I'll only ask once. Where is McGarrett?"
David didn't seem to believe the threat, he wasn't scared at all. "Dead," he answered after a while, his eyes gleaming in contentment.
Danny's heart jumped, but he tried not to show anything to David. He didn't believe him. Steve was not dead, he couldn't be. They needed to find out where he was and they needed to do it fast. Meeting Catherine's eyes he could see she was thinking the same. "All right, don't say I didn't warn you," he said as he left the room and closed the door behind him.
He sent the police officers for a short break and leaned his back on the wall beside the door. A few minutes passed, and he could hear a few muffled screams of David as Catherine tried to get the information out of him. He found his thought shifting to what David said. Dead. He can't be… But… What if he didn't lie? What if they were too late? No. He buried the thought. In a couple of minutes, the sound of a gunshot rang from behind the door, followed by an agonized scream. The nurse who had been standing nearby sprinted in the direction of the room but Danny stood up in the doorway, blocking her. "Give me one minute, all right?"
"What? It was a gunshot! Get out of that door, we've got a patient inside!" she yelled.
"He is a criminal and don't worry, I'm sure he'll be just fine," Danny protested, still standing in the door. "I want him to rot in prison, not dead. Trust me."
"Don't make me call the security!" the nurse insisted.
The door opened suddenly and Catherine showed up in the doorway. Danny stepped aside and let her walk out of the room. "He's all yours," he said to the nurse, ignoring a shocked look in her face.
Walking down the corridor a doctor and another nurse rushed beside them, probably into David's room. "So?" he asked.
"That son of a bitch won't speak," Catherine said with disappointment in her voice. "I tried but it would be easier in the interrogation cell where no one could hear him."
"Hey, it's all right, Cath," Danny said. "We can't exactly torture a guy in the hospital without being seen and heard, right? Let's hope Lou and Junior had more luck with Keoki. He doesn't have any people around to protect him. If they won't make him speak, I will."
"Do you believe him?" Catherine asked hesitantly.
Danny knew exactly what did she mean. Did he believe what David said about Steve? He shook his head. "He lied." That was the only acceptable answer.
They were on the way back to the headquarters when Danny's phone buzzed. "Junior, you're on speaker," he answered it and kept driving.
"We got it, we got the address from Keoki," Junior said with the relief and urgency in his voice. "I'm sending it to you, we'll meet you there."
Danny exchanged glances with Catherine, the adrenaline began to rush through his body. This was the closest they've been to Steve so far and they couldn't mess this chance up. As soon as the address had shown up on his phone, he made a sharp turn left and pushed the pedal to the floor.
*to be continued*
So the team had finally found out where Steve is. But isn't it too late for Steve? *evil grin*
A lot of action coming in the next chapter.
I'd really appreciate if you found a few seconds to let me know what you think :) Thanks for reading!