A/N: Your eyes do not deceive you, there is a second chapter today. If the last chapter was feels and fun, this chapter is more fury and fear. I'm not quite sure how else to explain this, so I'll just let you get to it.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and make no money doing this. I'm just having fun playing with them.
Chapter 63
Tucking Grace in for a nap, Steve kissed her forehead before stepping back to let Danny do the same. The pair then ducked into their own room, where Steve disappeared into the closet to grab a change of clothes. Danny sat on the edge of the bed watching his partner get ready.
"I do believe you will leave Stanley with quite an impression of just how dangerous you are." He licked his lips, watching the SEAL clip his badge to the belt of his black cargo pants. He briefly considered that it should be illegal for cargo pants to fit anyone quite so well. Noticing that Steve had changed into a pair of his combat boots that seemed to add just a bit of height compared to his normal boots made the detective snicker. Steve finished finished off the ensemble with a simple green t-shirt that hugged his chest, shoulders, and biceps in a way that made it impossible not to notice the strength there. Danny knew that while his partner didn't go out of his way to hide his physique, he rarely went to such lengths to display the threat inherent in his build and the way he carried himself. "I expect a full report later if you manage to make him freak out again." The Jersey native added innocently.
"I would pretend I don't know what you're implying, but we both know I would be lying. Yes, every bit of this is intended to scare the shit out of him. He may not have set out to kill Rachel and hurt Grace, but the son of a bitch made all the choices leading up to it knowing what he was doing was shady at best. I could almost forgive all that if he hadn't knowingly kept Grace locked and terrified in that bathroom for two fucking nights." His voice was a low, threatening growl.
Danny stood, approaching his partner cautiously. Steve's eyes were filled with the same wild fury Danny felt every time he so much as thought about what had happened. "I would ask if you think it is a good idea for you to go see him when you are so pissed, but I am actually all for it this time. Just try not to give Dianne a heart attack in the process. I actually find myself growing rather fond of her these days." Danny pressed a hard kiss to the SEAL's lips.
When the pair reached the living room, both Beth and Dianne stared in open mouth appreciation of Steve. Danny smirked at the two while Steve seemed oblivious. When the SEAL ducked into the kitchen for a moment, Danny joined the women.
"Are we going to talk to Stanley or kill him?" Dianne asked.
"I believe the plan is for you to talk and for Cujo in there to stand around looking threatening. I will warn you, last time he was in the same room with Stan, the idiot spoke without thinking and Cujo lunged. It was only a few days ago, so you're likely to see him squirm." Danny couldn't help the rather pleased tone of his voice.
"Good." Dianne was not usually the vindictive type, but between a sense of betrayal that the son-in-law she had embraced killed her only daughter, and the fury she felt over what he had done to Grace, she was making an exception this time around.
"I should also note that the previous visit occurred while Steve was still considerably more unsure of his standing with Grace and me. He was treading careful for fear of overstepping boundaries he thought were in place on my account. Super Seal went in before believing he was only Uncle Steve. He is going in this time knowing he is Daddy."
"Should I be concerned that he will end up in a neighboring cell to Stanley?" Dianne asked.
"I don't believe he will put a toe out of line, but I didn't want you to go in unprepared. Since you arrived you have had the uncommon privilege of seeing the softer, gentler side of him. What you just saw some down the stairs is only the tip of the iceberg for the amount of fear he can instill in a person. Whatever happens with Stan, it would kill Steve to think he scared you or made you think less of him."
Rachel's mother nodded in understanding as Steve returned to the living room, Camaro keys in hand.
"Mind if we take yours?" Steve jingled the keys.
"Not a bit. We aren't planning on going anywhere, and in case of emergency I believe I can maneuver that tank of yours." He gave Steve a quick kiss before letting him head toward the door.
"We'll see you guys in a bit." Beth called as the door shut. Turning to her son, she just stared at him for a moment. "You know, I've always understood, in theory, what his background meant. Suddenly that theory has taken on a whole new meaning. That just made the Super Seal you guys joke about while sparring look like a harmless little kitten." Her voice was full of awe.
"He will always be that harmless little kitten when it comes to you, ma. Don't let what you just saw scare you. I wasn't kidding. It would kill him to think any of us were afraid of him." Danny's voice was on edge, afraid that his mother wouldn't understand.
"Oh son, I'm not afraid of him. I'm just damned glad he's on our side." She patted her eldest on the shoulder. "As a mother, it's actually a bit reassuring to see that. Believe me, I have wished on more than one occasion that I could be that scary when someone hurt my family. Now if he ran around like that all the time it would be disconcerting, but the man we just saw walk out the door did so with the express purpose of instilling fear in the asshole that hurt your daughter."
"Mom!" Danny's jaw dropped at her uncharacteristic choice of words.
"Don't Mom me." She let out a short laugh. "Just because I haven't asked to confront him doesn't mean I wouldn't like his balls on a platter for what he did to my granddaughter and what that has done to all of you." She watched as her son's face turned red.
"I can't believe you just said that. This is some crazy alternate reality, isn't it? Shit. I need a beer." He turned for the kitchen, leaving his mother to follow.
/ GUARDIAN /
"Steven?" Dianne's voice broke the silence as they sped down the road to the prison. "Whatever happens when we get there, whatever you say or do to put Stanley in his place, I do not want you to worry about what I will think."
The SEAL's head whipped around to look at her. "We're going so you can speak to him. I am just there for moral support."
"And to scare him to the point where he never considers coming near your family again. You may not intend to open your mouth, but it does not take a genius to see that you do not intend to simply remain a fly on the wall during this meeting." She stared at him.
"I …"
"Steven, I am not calling you out to make you uncomfortable. Quite the opposite in fact. I trusted him. I believed he would take care of my only daughter. I believed he was better for Rachel and Grace than Daniel was. I was wrong. He betrayed every bit of trust I ever placed in him and hurt them both. Now I want him to feel every bit of pain that we all do because of him. I want you to do your level best to make him feel that, whether you open your mouth or not. The point is, do not let any concern regarding my opinion of you make you hold back if he steps out of line. I will not be scared of you when we walk back out that door, and I will not think less of you. I will be forever grateful that you are able to do what I know I would not be capable of." She stared him down during this entire speech, determined that he would see she was serious.
"Okay." Steve didn't argue this time. Her wishes aligned with his own. If she wanted to see Stan scared, she would see Stan scared. If his arrogance in their last meeting was indication, it would only be a matter of time before he gave Steve an excuse.
Once they arrived at the prison, Dianne stayed close to Steve's side. This was her first experience such a facility, and she was not planning on making it a routine thing.
"Don't worry. You'll be completely safe. The only prisoner you will be around is Stan, and I will be with you the entire time." Approaching the visitor check in, Steve saw the guard snap to attention.
"Commander McGarrett. They said you were coming. I'll call and have them bring him to the room while you sign in." The young man picked up the phone, eying Steve with a measure of fear.
Within minutes, they were approaching a room where Stanley had been placed. Given McGarrett's involvement, there had been no issue with arranging a private meeting instead of making Dianne confront him on the other side of a Plexiglas divider.
"You ready?" Steve asked before the guard accompanying them opened the door.
"His hands are cuffed behind the chair and you'll have Commander McGarrett with you the entire time. The guard that is there now will step out here with me to allow you some privacy." His eyes cut to Steve at the last statement, an unspoken promise that anything McGarrett did inside the room would not be noted. "We will be right out here when you are ready to leave."
Dianne took a deep breath and nodded. "I am ready."
He opened the door, letting Dianne step inside, Steve right on her heels. Dianne tried to hide her smile when her former son-in-law's eyes went as wide as saucers and he immediately started scrambling backward almost tipping his chair over. McGarrett didn't hide his amusement. His laugh was so different than the relaxed and happy sound she was used to hearing from him that it made her skin crawl. If laughs could kill, Stan would be on his way into a body bag.
"What are you doing here?" Stan's voice cracked in fear as he watched the guards leave him alone with McGarrett and Ms. Bradley. "I thought Danny was bringing Dianne."
"Don't you dare address me so informally." Ms. Bradley snapped at him.
"But Dianne …"
"You heard her." Steve snarled, stepping forward toward the table that separated them. Stan visibly blanched at his approach. "You have lost whatever right you think you had to address any member of this family with any degree of familiarity."
"She's not your family, so why do you care?" Stan continued to speak without thinking, even as he tried to scoot the chair further from the enraged SEAL. Steve couldn't decide if it was more arrogance or stupidity that let him open his mouth.
For her part, Dianne was determine appear calm and unruffled despite Steve's somewhat homicidal looking demeanor. She pulled out the chair that was obviously meant for her, and took a seat looking for all the world like she was not witnessing a scene that could turn bloody at any moment. From the looks of it, Stan had already been roughed up by someone. He was sporting a nasty looking black eye and a collection of other cuts and bruises visible above his prison issue jumpsuit.
"Once again," Steve rounded the table, leaning over Stan's chair, "you are wrong. She is part of Grace's family and that makes her part of mine. Now I suggest you rethink your approach to this conversation." Stan tried to lean away from him, but couldn't get any distance because of his restraints. "I brought her here so she could look into the eyes of the man that killed her daughter. So she could try to get some closure for what you did. Choose your next words wisely."
Stan gulped as McGarrett grabbed the back of his chair, shoving him hard into the table. Meeting Dianne's eyes, Steve was a bit surprised when she gave him a small smile and nod. Rachel's mother had some serious grit. Looming behind the prisoner for a few seconds longer, Steve stepped away to lean against the wall where he was slightly removed from the interaction but still in easy reach if he needed to help remind Stan how to behave.
"I didn't mean to do it." Stan looked to Ms. Bradley
"So I have heard." Dianne's voice even made Steve's brow raise. She made the version of her that showed up demanding Grace look warm and friendly. "Save me your bullshit excuses. I came her today to see if you had an ounce of remorse in you for what you did." She stared him down, channeling a ferocity she didn't know she had, but garnering strength from Steve's steady presence.
"Of course I do. I would never hurt Rachel or Grace intentionally." Steve and Dianne both narrowed their eyes at him, unimpressed with what they heard. "You honestly think I would intentionally do something that was going to land me in a place like this for the next ten years." He glared at McGarrett. "Don't think I don't blame you for ending up with a ten year sentence even after pleading guilty."
"Are you fucking kidding me? You murder your wife, leave her daughter bruised and terrified, locked in a bathroom for two god damned nights, and you want to blame being behind bars for the next ten years on ME?" McGarrett bellowed as his fists slammed onto the table, making the entire thing shake. "You have some fucking nerve if you try to pin the blame for anything in your miserable life on me or anyone else. This shit is ALL. ON. YOU."
Dianne slipped from her chair, taking a few steps back. She wasn't sure what would happen next, but didn't want Steve to feel guilty if she was caught in the crossfire.
"You have no business in the middle of this. All you are is Danny's stupid rag tag partner. I hope he packs up and takes his little brat back to Jersey." Steve shoved the table, sending it several feet across the floor. Stan jerked back so hard he toppled the chair over, leaving him trapped with his arms behind him and his legs in the air. Steve reached down, yanking Stan back up by the front of his jumpsuit.
"You better hope like hell you even survive ten years." The SEAL reared back, sending his fist crunching into Stan's face, whipping the man's head back. "I ever see your face again, it will be too soon." Steve wheeled around, trying to regain a level of composure he didn't feel. "Are you okay?" His question was directed at Dianne, staring back at him with wide eyes and an expression he couldn't quite read.
"Yes. What do you think? Shall we go home?"
McGarrett nodded, hitting the door once to let the guards know to open up. When the door opened, one guard slipped into the room. He looked to the prisoner and then to Steve. "Unfortunate what happens to prisoners that hurt women and children when they're in gen pop, isn't it?"
"Yeah. It is." McGarrett gave him a grin as he followed Dianne and the other guard down the hall.
When the pair were finally back in the Camaro, headed away from the ugliness they'd just experienced, Steve worried that Dianne was regretting what she had just witnessed.
"Thank you." Her voice interrupted his brooding. "I cannot explain how disappointed I am in what I heard from him. That is not the same man my daughter fell in love with, not the same man she married. I don't know what caused it, but any redeeming qualities he once had seem to have evaporated." She reached into her purse, pulling out a well worn handkerchief. "Let me see your hand." She motioned to his right hand, knuckles still smeared in blood.
Steve stretched his arm so she could reach the hand.
"I'm sorry you had to see that. That is a side of me I would prefer my ohana never see." Steve's voice was quite. Even though she thanked him, he still hated that she'd seen that part of him, the wild rage barely hidden beneath the surface.
"Steven, I told you before we went in there that I would not be afraid of you when we came back out, and I am not. Have I ever seen anything quite like that? No. Is it an experience I care to repeat? Not particularly. Am I glad that you did what you did? Yes." She tended to his hand with a gentleness he was unaccustomed to. "Now, when we get back to the house, why don't you pop out for a quick swim. If Beth is to be believed, and I find she generally is, it will do wonders to sooth you. Do not worry that you are going to come back to find anything other than a group of people that love you for everything you are, not just the side I have seen prior to this afternoon."
The SEAL nodded, unsure of what to say in response to her reassurances. In his gut, he knew she was right, but his mind raced with a dozen other less pleasant outcomes. She was right about one thing, he needed to release of the water to help him find his center, to help him shake off the remnants of the enraged SEAL and settle back into the man he knew he truly was.
/ GUARDIAN /
A/N: Just a few thoughts. First, anybody else surprised my Mama Williams in this one? I almost choked on my lunch when she fired off the last couple of lines from the scene with her and Danny. Second, I've come to realize that Stan is really quite the SOB. As of this chapter he has zero redeeming qualities no matter what canon says. Third, it may be slightly inappropriate how much I like it when Steve goes all bad ass. And finally, oops. I didn't mean for this to go so long, but some things just can't be glossed over in a few sentences.
Anyway, this is one of those chapters where I will shamelessly beg for reviews because I'm just dying to know what you all thought. Pretty pretty please take a few seconds and leave one and let me know.