Steve drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and checked his surroundings for the hundredth time. He glanced at his watch and huffed out a breath. They should have been here ten minutes ago if they were going to be on time for the prisoner transfer. He checked his phone also for the hundredth time, knowing full well he hadn't missed a call.

He was about to give it up and do something rash when a car pulled up. He breathed a quick sigh of relief when Chin and Lou stepped out. That was quickly squelched when he remembered Danny's battered face on the video screen. Show time.

Steve got out of the car, hands up as a gun appeared out the driver's window. Another door opened and a large man with a face mask stepped out.

"Stay where you are, Commander." It was the same voice as on the phone.

"I need to know the rest of my team is okay. I want to speak with Detective Williams."

"You're in no position to order anything, Commander." He waved the gun. "Besides you're running late for the prisoner transfer. Better get going. When you have them, you'll be called with more instructions. And remember, we still have eyes on you."

Steve nodded and Chin and Lou headed his way. They got in the police van without another word.

They were a block down the road before Steve spoke, "You guys okay?"

"Yeah, brah, we're fine."

"Danny?"

"He's a bit banged up. Took a through and through, lower left abdomen when they grabbed him."

Steve nodded, lips thin. "Kono?"

"She's fine," Chin told him.

Steve glanced in the rear view mirror; they weren't being followed.

"Danny said you instituted the protocol." Lou leaned forward from the back seat. "You sure everyone is safe?"

Steve nodded, "Duke took care of it. Our families are all at the safe house by now, I'm sure. I convinced the guy it meant Five-0 was to be left alone when he asked. But Duke sent me Robertson right afterwards."

"How'd he do that if you were being watched?"

"How do you think I got this van?" Steve allowed himself a small smile. "I, uh, commandeered it and convinced the leader we couldn't use my truck for the transfer. He made me give the nice officer my duffle bag, too."

"Ahhh," Chin smiled. "What did you give young Officer Robertson?"

"The bag might have had an earpiece and tracking equipment inside."

Lou chuckled, "So you were never as alone as you looked. Any luck on tracing phone calls?"

"He hasn't called back, but Robertson's monitoring. And now he's on him rather than me."

"I hope he's careful." Lou frowned. "If he gets made..."

"He'll be fine. He knows the stakes. We just have to worry about making this transfer and getting Danny and Kono back."

"We aren't really going to hand over Castro and Baker are we?"

"Just long enough to make them think that we are."

"We aren't armed unless..." Chin pointed out.

"No, there was no time to arrange weapons for us, but if all goes to plan, Duke and HPD will make it to our meeting point and take care of them for us. Robertson should have Danny and Kono's location by then, and we can go get them."

The van stayed quiet for the rest of the ride to Halawa as they all contemplated what must go right for the plan to work.

"Alright, here we go." Steve shut off the van as they pulled up to the transfer gate. "Remember, we don't know who all is involved so don't say anything that will tip our hand."

Steve plastered on his "business as usual" face as they entered Halawa's complex and hoped it was convincing. He glanced at the others and noticed they had done the same though he could still see the stress and worry lines around everyone's eyes.

"Commander McGarrett, we've been expecting you." The warden met them at the door. "Everything okay?"

"Just running a little behind." Steve shrugged. "It's been one of those days."

"I bet," a guard snorted as they walked.

Steve followed him in and tried not to sneer at the prisoners they were here to get. It was hard as one guy grinned widely, showing off two golden teeth. "Rough day, Commander?"

Steve resisted the urge to answer because all he wanted to respond with was a punch to the mouth and knock out those atrocious teeth.

"I hear the day's been rougher for your partner." The other one smirked.

Steve turned signed papers the warden offered. As he turned, he caught Lou's gaze. How could they possibly know?

"They're all yours, Commander."

"Thanks, Warden." Steve shook his hand. "We'll get them where they need to be."

Steve ignored the snort from the guard behind him, but he again caught Lou's eye and raised his eyebrows. He got an almost imperceptible nod in return.

"Warden, could I get a moment of your time?" Lou laid on his best smile.

"We'll be outside." Steve nudged the two prisoners out the door to the waiting van.

Chin, leaning against the transport van and chewing on his lip, raised his head as Steve ushered out the prisoners. He glanced behind at the door which had swung shut. "Where's Lou?"

"He'll be right out."

Chin raised an eyebrow but didn't comment as he opened the door and motioned the prisoners to get inside.

"How 'bout you unshackle us first?"

"Yeah," the other one grumbled as he lifted his foot, leg irons barely reaching.

"How 'bout you just get in before I toss you in?"

"Hey, that's..."

"The last warning you're going to get before we break your legs and toss you in," Steve interrupted.

As soon as they got the van doors closed again, drowning out the angry expletives from Castro and Baker, Lou stormed out the side door. His scowl matched the gathering storm clouds on the horizon.

"Well?"

"He was in on it." Lou nodded. "Like we thought."

"Who?" Chin questioned.

"One of the guards," Steve explained. "He seemed to know a lot about what was going on."

"The warden is contacting HPD to come pick up him. In the meantime, he's been given his own special cell while they go through his phone and belongings. He got involved through Baker who has some rich contacts, it seems. They were willing to pay big bucks to get him broken out."

"They're going to have to wait a while longer." Steve glared at Baker though the van windows, pleased to notice he couldn't hold his stare.

Lou reached under his shirt and pulled a gun out of his waistband. He held it out to Steve, "The warden thought this might come in handy."

Steve tucked it in the back of his own waistband.

"Did the guard know where we were to make the swap?" Chin questioned.

"No."

"Okay, let's go. We need to do this so we can get Danny and Kono back. I doubt they really want to swap so keep your eyes open. We take any opportunity to get out of this, copy?

Chin and Lou nodded.

Again, thank you for all the reviews. My apologies if I don't respond to all reviews, but I am trying to respond at least once. To my guest reviewers - I can't respond to you, but I appreciate you just as much!