Chapter 1

Hey guys! Here's a Christmas story for you. I aim to finish posting this before Christmas or on the day, so, posting will likely be everyday-yeahyy. I hope you will enjoy it. Do let me know.

...

the bruise will stop by later.

For now, the pain pauses in its round,

notes the time of day, the patient's temperature,

leaves a memo for the surrogate: What the hell

did you think you were doing? I mean . . .

Oh well, less said the better, they all say.

I'll post this at the desk.

God will find the pattern and break it.

...

Steve got an urgent call from the Governor that morning, something that needed his 'urgent attention' pronto. He had gone there thinking, maybe a new case. But as he walked out of the Governor's office with Danny that day, he wasn't in high spirits. Danny on the other hand, wasn't too annoyed.

"So, when is this plane landing, by the way?" Danny asked.

"In an hour Danny, you heard what the Governor said." Steve said, bored. This wasn't a case and it certainly wasn't a task he would get all hyped about.

"Well, there's a silver lining to this Steven, lighten up. New Jersey baby! Here we come!" Danny said, excitedly.

Steve grimaced, "That's one other thing that's got me so pissed off about this new task, never hearing the end of this New Jersey thing from you. I need to get ear plugs for the whole journey just to avoid hearing you brag about the place before we even get there."

True to Steve's prediction, Danny resumed then to brag about the sights to see in New Jersey. How awesome Jersey was, all the way back to the Palace. Steve thought his ears would bleed!

They got to HQ, the team waiting to hear about the Governor's debrief. Danny was still in his bubble about New Jersey.

"Have you ever been?" Lou asked Steve.

"Never."

"Really? All these years as Danny's partner you'd think you would have visited at least once. The way he brags about it and diss Hawaii." Lou said.

"He's never invited me." Steve said.

"Lie." Danny called from his office where he could overhear everything. "I've invited you countless times but you've always managed to find an excuse. Maybe you're afraid to find what I say about Hawaii to be true." Danny said, walking back to the computer table where everyone was gathered. "Frankly, it surprises me that not a single one of you in this room have ever been to New Jersey. Lou, Chicago man, ever been?" Danny asked excitedly.

Lou shrugged. "I've somehow managed to restrict my movements to Chicago and L.A and now Hawaii. Never been to the glorious New Jersey Danny, but I hear it's a stuffy little place compared to this paradise." Lou said, to annoy Danny, he got it.

"Well, whoever said that to you lied dismally and should be vanquished to the darkest, hottest part of this Hades Hawaii!" Danny said to everyone's laughter. "I mean, imagine this smoldering heat right now, and it's snowing in New Jersey."

"Extreme temperatures in New Jersey, one might say. Can't say it's everyone's cup of tea. Say, do you think we have more tourists this season running away from Jersey winter to busk in the sunshine of this paradise?" Tani said.

"Well, as far as Hades is concerned, I think the Judges ruled against Hawaii when they picked Jersey to be the most appropriate hell for a high-profile mass murderer, seeing as we are having to transport them all the way there for a trial." Steve said.

"They are passing through here, are they not? I'm sure the judges decided to be lenient but God himself decided to give one of the Marshals an appendicitis just so they could step on this unholy ground for a little piece of hell." Danny countered.

"I really wonder what New Jersey is like." Junior said in wonder.

"It's golden, babe. Golden." Danny said excitedly. "Steve, we've only got an hour man, we should go pack. Make sure you get a heavy jacket or two with you. Although I would be surprised if you have any in your closet, living in this one season weather hellhole. But don't say I didn't warn you." Danny said, ready to leave for his house to go pack. His eagerness for this new gig was comical. Normally, he would be the one grumbling about a mission like this. The last-minute abruptness of it would have been an inconvenience that Danny would have had a hard time not to complain about, constantly. But because the destination was New Jersey, the guy was all smiles and compliance and raring to go. Never mind that there was a dangerous criminal they were supposed to escort all the way to New Jersey.

"Don't tell me you have jackets in your closet here in Hawaii Danny." Steve taunted.

"Yeah, I packed them when I first moved here not knowing I was never gonna need them as long as I lived here. Couldn't even give them to good will. Who would take them here? So, yeah, I have a couple. God, I can't wait to wear a jersey and feel some contradicting weather, not to always have the sun all the time." Danny said bitingly. "God, even a cardigan. I can't believe I haven't worn anything resembling a jersey here. Where would I wear it when all the time, I'm struggling not to get out of my shirt with all the heat. If only I could peel my skin off too, to make it better."

"Oh, come on Danny, you know we've had some winters here. We've had rainy seasons , some storms even, we've had... we've had some cold weather. Just last week Haleakala even had some snow." Steve defended.

"Pshht! Was that snow?" Danny exclaimed in sarcasm.

"Oh, you love this place Danno. You just don't want to admit that you actually think it's better than New Jersey. This is paradise." Steve chided.

Danny turned to walked away then turned around to face Steve, couldn't resist the last word. "I'm gonna go pack, a jersey and a jacket will be included. Do you even know what those are? Living in this hot, sandy, pineapple infested paradise of yours?" He said then turned to walk away, Steve just smirked.

He liked these light moments he had with his best friend; he could swear they were the only highlight of his life right now. He was soo depressed and even Danny's efforts could not cajole a lighter response from him. He just couldn't shake the heavy depressive weight that was constantly on his shoulders these days. Ever since his mother, he just hasn't been the same. He did everything on autopilot, he would sleep only because his body would be too exhausted it had no choice but to succumb. Most of the time he didn't know how to get out of bed, but by shear will, he would. He would take his usual morning swim and go to work. But he didn't feel much of anything. The thanksgiving celebrations he had held at his house with his whole team present, even Junior's parents, just two weeks ago and he barely remembered what it was all about. He had lost most everyone in his life, he really couldn't remember what he was grateful for. Like he had told Danny that time in DC, he had no say in whatever happened. There was no point to anything. He had said that at his lowest, having just lost Joe and more recently his mother whom he had hoped would be present in his life eventually and they could be a normal family again. What dreams could he have? What was he still fighting for? But he had gone back to Hawaii, gone back to work and was still fighting, albeit on autopilot. He had prepared and held Thanksgiving celebrations at his house. But he had found it so hard to throw that ball in the football game that Adam had sort of forced him into. He hadn't thought it would be that hard, but it had been, just to throw the first ball. He had played though, as he was expected to.

He had given his own thanksgiving speech, as expected of a host.

"I... I'm thankful…this year…" A pause, really didn't know what to say. "For friends like you 'all." He said with a tight smile then raised a glass in a toast. "To you guys, for being there for me through the rough times." He thought it was a good enough speech, considering.

The one person who really knew that he was dangerously low was Danny. Reason why his anti-social, 'doesn't want to live with anyone', friend of his had made up a tale so he could come and bunk in with Steve and Junior for a week. The same reason he had hightailed it to Washington when he had heard the news about what had happened on Steve's 'rescue mother' mission. It helped, a great deal. But was it enough? Did it make Steve feel like he could face another day as he used to, or did it just emphasize to him that he still had more people to lose? How he couldn't take anymore loss? He just didn't have control over anything, and he had just learned that the hard way. He had been at the point of quitting Five-0 back in that hotel room in DC. He didn't know if he still wasn't on that wagon.

It had sure been an interestingly bleak year for him, first with Joe and now his mother. Christmas was going to be something else for him this year. Danny had been nagging him about going to New Jersey for Christmas. 'Christmas in the snow', he had said, to entice him. Steve could not have been more demotivated. The answer was 'no'. Danny, true to nature, had not stopped nagging. Steve didn't budge. He could not fathom the idea of ice skating in the snow. He didn't even remember when last he had gone surfing. He was that depressed. And now it seemed Danny might just get his wish after all. Jersey it is, the Governor had decreed. But Steve would not promise to be any more participatory than what duty strictly required, which was transport their prisoner and fly back home.

…..

See you in the next. Let me know what you think.