So, in doing a re-watch of Hawaii Five-0, I decided to dabble a little in FanFiction as a way to squash horrendous writing block – I do NOT own anything, but the plot.
This is set towards the end of season 6 and does not feature everyone. So, if they're not mentioned, don't panic! Some elements are slightly AU-ish to fit the story, but the majority fits with the timeline of the show.
This turned into a bit of an epic (and yet full on angst-riddled) story, but I hope you enjoy!
Nalo a loaʻa
-loosely translates to "lost and found"-
CHAPTER ONE
"Charlie!"
Wincing, Danny matched his outcry by bending down and picking up the offending item. Lifting his hand, he felt himself inward curse the army figurine that moments ago was buried in the sole of his foot.
Steve.
"Damnit," Danny sighed, slumping onto the bed, twiddling the small green figure between his fingers. "Goddamnit."
Grief he spent every day suppressing hit him full throttle and the detective felt his chest tighten. Most days he didn't feel like he was drowning, but some days the wave was so monumental he couldn't even tread water.
Today's riptide was one of his son's many army figures that Steve had brought for Charlie on his last birthday. It was a blatant attempt to rattle Danny, but Charlie idolised the SEAL so much, he didn't bother ruining the fun.
When he heard no reply, he decided to go and find his son, following the bread crumb of littered green miniature figures. Entering the dining room, Danny just about caught sight of his four-year-old son's tiny feet from under the table. Rounding the side nearest the window, he could hear Charlie whispering to be quiet and he cleared his throat to let him know that his dad was there.
"Hey Buddy!" he announced the moment he crouched down. "What are you up to?"
"We're on a mission to get Uncle Steve back!" Charlie announced, laying on his stomach, surrounded by more army figures. "Leave no man behind, Danno!"
Hanging his head, Danny immediately felt at a loss for words. How would he possibly ever get Charlie to understand that this mission wasn't going to end anytime soon?
"Well, Bud, while I understand that is a big task, you can't do it without fuel. So, I think it's time for breakfast and then we need to head off for school."
"But what about Uncle Steve?" Charlie asked, tipping his head to the side. "It's been forever since he came over for breakfast!"
Danny sighed but knew he couldn't let Charlie worry.
"I know, Charlie, but you know that right now Steve can't be here." He then gestured for his son to get out from under the table. "It's why we have to keep going."
"I know," Charlie agreed, albeit sadly. "I just miss him … we never got to finish our last special mission."
"Hey," Danny started, getting Charlie to look up at him. "Maybe we can do it together?" Danny asked, tightening his grip on his son. "For now, though… look after these little guys, because like you said … leave no man behind."
Holding up the green figure, Charlie grinned and took the toy. Danny hoped that meant that Charlie would let him into the world Steve created with his son.
"Get them tidied up and go get dressed so we can get you fed and off to school. I'll meet you in the kitchen, okay?"
"Okay, Danno!"
Danny waited with bated breath as Charlie ran off and he willed himself to have the strength to get through the day. He knew he couldn't collapse under the weight the world had put on his shoulders, but there were days he didn't want to contend with the job at hand. Days he wanted to keep the blinds drawn, the covers over his head, and believe the outside world didn't exist.
Hearing the doorbell ring, Danny knew life was not going to be that nice to him. Drawing in a breath, he made his way back through the house and checked the peephole before opening the door. He didn't even greet Chin, he just enabled him to come in.
"Wanted to see if you wanted a ride..."
"As great as that sounds, really just want to drive the long way to work after I drop the kids off."
"Everything okay, Brah?"
"Huh," Danny started, rubbing a hand around the back of his beck. "Define okay and I'll let you know."
Everyone knew that Danny was not okay and hadn't been for a long time. Chin stood by the New Jersey detective out of honour and knew that there would come a day that Danny would fully break and have to accept that life as it was, wasn't going to change.
"Hey, Chin!"
Charlie came out of nowhere, running up to Chin, but without touching him, just grinned up at the Hawaiian detective.
"Hey, Charlie, how are you doing today?"
"I think I'm really close to bringing Uncle Steve home!" Charlie exclaimed before merrily skipping off.
"When are you going to tell him the truth?" Grace asked, crossing her arms over her chest, the same sour look on her face. She dressed in her uniform, clearly having stayed out of the way while Danny dealt with Charlie. "He has a right to know."
"Grace," Danny sighed, neglecting his token nickname for his daughter.
"No, you know I'm right ... you're deluding yourself as much as you are him and Charlie will only end up resenting you when Uncle Steve doesn't come back from his mission like you keep saying."
With a hand rubbing his jaw, Danny felt on the spot with Chin and his daughter watching him. He knew she was talking sense, but a part of him was so hidden in denial he couldn't see straight.
"I know you're right, Grace, but some things are harder to explain … and Charlie … he's young. He doesn't understand things like you and I do. You're-"
"Old enough, right?" she interjected. "Like I was old enough to understand you being arrested and put in a Columbian prison, right?" She hated herself for bringing up the things she knew still plagued her dad, but she couldn't help the sharpness of her tongue. "Like I was old enough to know about Uncle Steve being kidnapped and tortured. I didn't need you to tell me the details, Danno, I read enough, but it doesn't mean it sucks any less."
Turning on the spot, Grace walked away down the hallway, not allowing her father the chance to argue his point.
"She's still angry then?" Chin surmised, clearing his throat.
"She never made it passed that stage, to be honest," Danny muttered, watching Grace disappear into the back yard. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore, Chin. She's always so angry and Charlie doesn't help, but he's so young, he doesn't understand any of this."
"You're doing just fine," Chin comforted Danny, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Your kids miss him, but so do you ... he was your best friend."
"I just never saw me doing this without him, y'know?" He asks rhetorically. "He led me into a lot of dangerous shit, and I was always okay with that no matter what I said, but never did I think we'd be doing this without him."
Chin remained stoic and quiet as Danny vented. He had a lot to say, but Danny had more - Danny always had more.
"Five-0 was always him and us, not just us. I just never imagined doing it without him, y'know?"
With a sad head nod, Chin agreed. "Now, it's his legacy, we just have to remind ourselves of that every day we catch a new case."
Hearing his phone chime at the same time as Chin's, the pair exchanged a look before reading the text they had received.
Urgent meeting.
My office.
9am sharp.
"Looks like we're not going straight to HQ."
Looking up from his phone, Chin gave a cool smile, his standard calmness in place.
"It's never a good thing when we're starting a Monday in the governor's office."
"But here we are," Danny gripped with an eye-roll. "Come on kids! We need to go!"
