Guardian
A/N: This chapter nearly wrote itself, but at the same time was a bit emotionally challenging. Please let me know what you think after you've read, I'm hoping I've done them justice.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and make no money doing this. I'm just having fun playing with them.
Chapter 10
Sitting out on the lanai after lunch, the men watched as Grace and Kono built what started as a sand castle, but was starting to look a fair bit more elaborate.
"What time are you guys planning to go to HPD?"
They'd discussed the plan over lunch with the cousins readily assenting.
"We should probably go now. From the looks of it those two are building an entire sand city and will be well occupied until our return."
Chin continued to watch his cousin with the little girl. "Don't worry; we'll take good care of her. I'll give Duke a call and let him know that you're coming so they're ready for you."
The partners thanked him and moved toward the water to let the girls know. They were pleased that while Grace hugged hem both tightly, she didn't seem afraid that they were leaving for a bit.
In the Camaro and headed toward HPD both men were quiet at first.
"You know, I should call Dr. Thompson and get those referrals."
"Good idea, babe. I'm sure it'll take a few days to get in with one of them. Do you have the number?"
Not answering the question, Steve tapped the phone mounted on the dash and a few touches later, it began to ring.
Danny filed that information away for later. Steve had a shrink in his phone contacts. That was unexpected.
On the third ring, a pleasant sounding man answered the phone. "Commander McGarrett, how's my favorite patient?"
"I've been better, doc, but this call isn't about me. It's about Grace."
Danny gave him a puzzled look. Not only was the shrink in his contacts, he clearly knew Steve well, and knew who Grace was?
Steve continued, "Danny is here with me."
"I should have expected this call. I heard what happened on the news. How is Grace?"
Steve glanced at his partner from the corner of his eye and saw him staring back expectantly.
"All things considered, she's doing great. She's with Chin and Kono now. She asked us to go find out why he did it."
"From what you've told me about her, I'm not surprised. Although she's young, she is also very mature and seems to adore Five-0, so I suspect she's attacking this entire crisis in a very logical manner. She knows the when, the where, the who, and the how. The missing piece is the why and knowing that piece of the puzzle may eventually allow her to come to terms better. However, I suspect you had more of a reason in calling and I'd be happy to send you a list of a couple very good child and family therapists that will be well prepared to help. I suspect they'll all be familiar with the basics from the news, but if you need helping getting in quickly tell them I sent you."
"Thanks, doc. You knew before I even asked."
"That, Commander, is they pay me what they do. Now, go get your girl some answers and I'll send that email in about five minutes. When things settle down I expect to see you in my office."
With no further conversation, the line disconnected, leaving the car in silence for a few miles.
"Go ahead, Danno. Just say what's on your mind." He could only imagine the rant was coming now that his partner knew he'd been seeing a shrink. He'd been going since not long after he met Grace. Things that never bothered him before suddenly did. He had a hard time reconciling the killer he knew he was with the person he wanted to be for the little girl.
"Actually, babe, I'll admit I was taken by surprise, but I'm really proud of you. I know too many tough guys that won't talk to anyone when they need to and I'm really glad to hear that you do." The absolute sincerity in Danny's voice was unexpected.
Pulling into the parking spot, Steve turned off the car, closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After what felt like minutes, but was really just a few seconds, he turned to look at his partner.
"Really?" His voice was hopeful.
"Yes, Steven, really. I worry about you sometimes. I know we talk, but I also know there is a lot you have to censor and I'm profoundly happy to know you have someone that you can speak freely to without worrying about security clearances. Believe it or not, Super Seal, your ohana doesn't expect you to be invincible all of the time."
Danny's heart melted at the smile on his partner's face. He could only imagine the courage it took for him to make that call with him in the car, knowing his relationship with the Navy doctor was likely to come out. He'd gotten over whatever fear he had about the reaction because it was the best thing for Grace.
"Thanks, Danny. Means a lot to know you understand." Clearly reaching his capacity for heartfelt discussions, he pushed the door open. "Now, let's go pay Mr. Edwards a visit."
Duke met them at the door. "He's waiting for you in the interrogation room." The three headed that direction. "So far he's maintained his story from yesterday. At least he didn't try to play stupid. It appears his lawyer won't touch the case, so he's stuck with the provided council. Apparently, that's one lawyer with a bit of conscience and a fear of crossing Five-0. Governor Denning made sure we have the best prosecutor on the case."
Reaching the door, Duke nodded to the officer standing on guard and watched the pair disappear into the room. He ducked into the small observation room. No matter what happened, he'd swear their behavior was above reproach, although he knew them well enough to know they would be careful with this one because it was so close to home.
Stan looked up at the sound of the door opening and had to swallow back the bile that rose in his throat. Though everything had been done by the book, his handling had been far from friendly thus far.
Seeing McGarrett and Williams enter the room, he thought there was a chance they'd decided to dispense with the formality of a trial altogether and dispose of him now.
He had a fleeting thought that the taller man resembled a caged tiger ready to spring as he positioned himself in the back corner of the room. His back leaned against the wall, arms crossed menacingly in front of him; McGarrett didn't look pleased, making Stan swallow nervously.
Danny pulled out the seat across from the prisoner, flipped it backward and sat. Clearly coiled to jump up at the slightest provocation, the smaller man was only slightly less frightening than his counterpart. Stan was slightly amazed that every suspect they faced didn't immediately confess.
"Tell me about what happened, Stan?" The detective's voice dared him not to answer.
"I already told Chin, things have fallen apart at work. Things were already rough between Rachel and me, so I'd kept it from her. I didn't want another reason to fight when things were already clearly ending. I got home after having a couple of drinks and we argued. I lashed out and the next thing I knew she was on the floor bleeding."
Danny's icy glare scared him; however, Steve's stony voice terrified him. "You didn't think to call 911?"
"I was drunk. All I could think is how bad it would look. Then Grace was screaming. She and I struggled and the next thing I knew she locked herself in the bathroom and I was in the kitchen with a bottle of scotch and a black eye."
"You struggled?" Steve's voice took on a deadly edge that even gave Danny the chills as he came away from the wall. "You tore her clothes, left bruises all over her body, and all you can say is you struggled?"
It took every bit of restraint the Seal possessed not to jump over the table and throttle Stan. The prisoner, for his part, seemed scared into silence.
"What I want to know and what Grace wants to know, is why. Why did things turn violent? Why is her mother dead?" Danny fixed his eyes on Stan. He wanted answers for his baby girl.
"It's not like I planned it. Yes, I believed our marriage was over, despite Rachel's attempts to convince herself and everyone around us otherwise, but I never intended to hurt her. It was just too much, she wouldn't stop pushing for answers and I needed her to be quiet. One second we were arguing and then she was silent."
"Well, that's a pathetic excuse for us to give Grace." Danny stared down his ex's killer as Steve lurked barely a foot behind him. The closer the Seal got to Stan the more the detectives skin crawled with nervous anticipation of what would happen next.
"How is Grace doing?" Stan brazenly asked. His tone convinced neither man he actually cared.
"You don't get to ask that question anymore." Danny replied flatly.
"Why the hell not? I've been playing the part of daddy for quite some time now."
The words were barely out of his mouth when Steven lunged. "You have no claim on that name. All you've ever given that little girl is rabbit and a lifetime of therapy bills."
Scrambling to get away from the clearly enraged Seal, Stan managed to tip his chair back and crash to the floor.
Towering over him, Steve's voice dropped so low that no one in the observation room would have heard his next words. "I've been more of a father to that little girl than you ever dreamed of being, you stupid son of a bitch."
Before Steve could get his hand on Stan, Danny grabbed his shoulder from behind. "Steven, look at me." His voice sounded a bit panicked feeling the tension radiating from where his hands gripped his partner.
He waited for the taller man to turn and comply. Seeing the look in his eyes, Danny could well understand Stan's attempts to flee.
"I know you want to kill him, so do I, but right now Gracie needs us both to keep it together. One or both of us sitting in a jail cell because of him will do her no good."
Nodding silently, the Seal gave the still handcuffed man on the floor one final glare before he turned and left the room, the detective right behind him.
Duke met them in the hall. "I think he might need to change his pants after that." The older man snickered. "He'll get what's coming to him. I have no doubt word will get out amongst the other prisoners and you know they don't typically take well to violence against women and children."
The pair appreciated Duke's comments. Though they both wished they could have a hand in roughing him up, they knew that keeping themselves clean in his mess and being there for Grace was far more important.
"Speaking of Grace, everybody at the station pitched in and got her something. I'll meet you at the car in a few minutes with it."
"Thanks, Duke." The pair turned to leave.
Walking down the hall, they heard him direct two other officers to pick the trash up off the floor and put him back where he belonged.
Approaching the Camaro, Danny handed over the keys without question or comment. He could sense Steve needed to be in control of something and at the moment the car might be the only thing that would cooperate.
They stood staring at each other over the roof of the car, waiting for Duke to reappear with the gift. The expression on Steve's face worried Danny, but he couldn't quite place which face he was seeing.
"Steven, we need to talk. Let's go grab some coffee and go someplace we can talk privately." McGarrett's rarely seen kicked puppy face followed the fleeting look of panic; unfortunately, before he could say anything else Duke appeared with a rather large wrapped box for Grace.
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