Should I stay or should I go now?
By
Landon Richardson
Official Disclaimer
The characters of Steve McGarrett, Chin Ho Kelly, Kono Kalakaua and Adam 'Toast' Charles do not belong to me in any shape or form. I am merely using them for my own entertainment purposes.
The characters of Danielle 'Danni' Williams, although originally based on male Danny Williams could possibly be considered her own character as by this time all they seem to share with each other is their name and the fact they have a daughter named Grace. I should add that Grace is called Grace Taylor is in this saga, that's due to the fact that Williams is Danni's maiden name which she reverted back to when she and Duncan divorced. Taylor was her married name.
The character of Jack O'Connor, Riley King and David Williams belong to me. Any other character who might pop up who you don't instantly recognise will probably belong to me as well. I'll hopefully catch them in time to put above though.
Author Note
Here's the next chapter for you all.
So this story will be long I think and will highlight Steve and Danni mending their broken relationship with each other because there is no doubt about it that something isn't right between the two of them at the moment. That means that there will be plenty of angst in it because I doubt it will be simple but there will also be some happy moments in there as well.
It will mainly be done in Danni's and Steve's point of view and will often jump in time. For example this is set two weeks after the previous chapter…
Anyway please enjoy
Official Summary
Danni Williams has come to a crossroad in her life, especially her working life at 50. Now there's only one question which she has to answer… Should she stay or should she go? (McDanni, female Danny, part of the Danni universe)
Chapter Summary
"So how are you actually finding it being back here in this bulpen? You haven't really said anything about it yet and I've got to admit the suspense is killing me so spill Danni, tell Uncle Meka everything."
Official Romances for the story
Steve McGarrett / Danielle 'Danni' Williams (McDanni)
Kono Kalakaua / Charlie Fong
Riley King / Rosie Lange
Romances mentioned during the chapter
Hints of Steve McGarrett / Danielle 'Danni' Williams (McDanni)
Other note
Please keep in mind that I don't have a Beta for this story so the odd mistake may creep in without me meaning it to. I have also never been to Hawaii so all locations are either from the show, google or made up in my own mind.
Chapter Four
"So how are you actually finding it being back here in this bulpen? You haven't really said anything about it yet and I've got to admit the suspense is killing me so spill Danni, tell Uncle Meka everything."
Danni glanced up from reading Detective Montague's report, a smile coming to her face when she saw Meka leaning against the side of the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest as he clearly waited for her to say something.
"Uncle Meka? I mean I know you're older than me but I didn't realise you were that much older" Danni commented with a grin ignoring the way he rolled his eyes at her comment. "You might as well come in and close the door behind you, no point allowing anyone else to hear our conversation after all." She instructed, waving her hand towards one of the chairs opposite her desk when he turned back to her. "Park yourself down in one of them."
Meka crossed the room, dropping down into the chair, his long legs stretched out in front of him and crossed at the ankles as he focused his attention on her, raising one eyebrow in a way which told her that he was still waiting for an answer to his question.
"It's not as bad as I thought it would be but then again I've only been here for two weeks so far." Danni admitted, dropping her pen onto the file as she leaned back into her own chair, thankful to take a breather from the work which seemed never ending. She had found herself with a new found respect for Captain Hookano who had somehow always made it seem as though he was doing no work, either he was one hell of a worker which she doubted or he had a secret technique to getting it done which he hadn't bothered to share with her. Knowing the man like she did, she was pretty positive that the second option was probably the correct one.
"It feels longer than two weeks somehow, it feels more like you've always been sitting in that seat." Meka pointed out thoughtfully, the comment causing Danni to nod.
The other members of 50 had come round separately over the course of that weekend two weeks ago, congratulating her on the promotion while bemoaning their own bad luck that they were losing her for two months. She had merely laughed at the comments, sympathising with them while a steady feeling of dread had come over her to the closer to Monday that she had got.
She knew why she felt that way, her last experience in the bulpen had been hideous, and yet when she had walked in Monday with the head of HPD there had been nothing, it was as though they didn't realise that she was the same person who they had tormented for six months straight. This time they listened to her, obeying her instructions without so much of a grumble. It had startled her, leaving her feeling suspicious that they were up to something but the days had passed and still nothing had occurred.
Either they were trying to lure her into a false sense of security or they had really changed and had simply accepted her as their new Captain. She just wasn't sure which version was right but she was determined not to let her guard down for a moment.
"I know what you mean" She said, looking at her former partner. If one good thing had come out of this whole mess it was the fact that she was able to spend more time with the man opposite her.
"How is 50 doing? I hear they have a big drug case on the go at the moment?" Meka asked her, a curious glint in his black eyes. She nodded.
"That's what I heard" She said, thinking back to the conversations which she had had with her team mates over the past week, she had many a call from all of them, asking for her opinion on the case or just needing to talk to someone about the way Steve was acting.
She sighed, shaking her head.
Steve.
That was an issue which she had no idea how to approach. She hadn't seen him for two weeks and had found herself missing him terribly. It felt like a limb was missing but clearly he hadn't felt the same way since Toast had let slip that Catherine Rollins, Steve's on and off again relationship, had arrived in the office on the first Friday Danni had been gone and had disappeared with Steve. Danni had been surprised by how much the knowledge had hurt her though she made sure not to let anything on to Toast, merely changing the subject as quickly as she could without it being obvious.
"Hey you all right? You looked down for a moment" Meka said, sounding concerned as he sat up straight and look at her.
"It's nothing, just thinking about 50 and how Steve is doing that's all." Danni responded with a shake of her head, she opened her mouth to say more when the door was flung open revealing the man in question. She blinked at him, her mouth falling open slightly in shock at the state of him. He appeared agitated though she doubted anyone else who wasn't fluent in McGarrett would realise that. His cheek was bruised as well as though he had been in a fight recently. "Erm Meka, can we talk later on please?" She asked Meka who nodded at her, getting to his feet.
"Yeah course Danni, I'll let the others know that you're not available for the next hour or so as well" Meka responded, glancing towards Steve before he left the room, closing the door behind him. Danni immediately came to her feet, moving round the office and heading straight for Steve, she reached out, wrapping her hand round his wrist and used the hold to tug him over to the sofa, pushing him down onto it before she turned and headed to her coffee pot, grabbing her spare mug and poured some into it, passing it over to Steve.
"Drink that" She commanded as she moved round the office, closing the blinds so any curious eyes from outside would be unable to see anything. No doubt it would fuel the rumour about her and Steve being a couple but right at that moment in time she didn't care. Danni breathed out as she headed back to him, lowering herself into the space next to him and spoke, her voice quiet. "What happened?" She asked.
Steve shrugged, sipping the coffee for a moment before he spoke.
"Nothing, Jack and I haven't quite figured out how the other works yet so he went one way while I went the other and we collided. It was a stupid mistake to make." Steve said his hands tightening on the mug.
"Is Jack okay?" She asked him, making a mental note to call the blond that evening to hear exactly what happened. Steve had a tendency of downplayed things especially if he knew that he was in the wrong.
"He's fine Danni, he doesn't have a scratch on him" Steve answered with a wave of his hand as though he was brushing her concern away.
"Is to do with the drug case you're working on? The others have been keeping me in the loop" She explained when she caught sight of his questioning look.
"Yeah, we're not making much headway on it, turns out that we're all specialists in all areas bar drugs." He told her, the comment making Danni nod.
"We always knew that, that was why we were talking about headhunting someone from the DEA so we would have that area covered. Maybe it's time for you to revisit that and see if there is anyone who you think could fit into 50 and tempt them over." She suggested, leaning back against the sofa.
"I'm not making that decision without you" He responded instantly, twisting his body round so he could face her and see her expressions.
"Then bring the potential files here, I'll give you my opinion on them and then if you still want my help then we can interview them here." She told him, her mouth curling into a small smile when he nodded at her. "You know just because I'm here it doesn't meant that I don't still considered 50 my team, I know we've had our ups and downs recently but if you or one of the others need my help or my opinion on the case or anything else then my door is always open. It's never been closed."
Steve breathed out, dropping his eyes for a moment before he looked back at her.
"I need you back" He told her, the admission surprising her.
"What?" She asked him, trying to buy some time.
"It's not the same without you there, you're my second in command Danni and my partner. I need you by my side, not on the other side of town"
"You don't need me by your side, you want me by your side, there's a huge difference Steve. You and I by the end were barely functioning as partners. You didn't listen to what I said to you even when nine times out of ten I was proven right. We need to fix this problem between us before I can come back otherwise we'll end up in the same situation as before. Do you know how close I was to resigning? I was close enough that I found myself at the Governor's buildings figuring out whether I could go through with it. That's how close I was Steve." She admitted, watching the look of shock that came over his face.
"You were going to leave me?" He asked her, his voice coming out weakly.
"Not leave you in the sense that you wouldn't be in my life. You're always going to be in my life Steve but… but I wasn't sure I could still be your partner when you refuse to listen to me. I'm still not sure whether we actually work anymore. That's why this break is a good thing, it gives us a chance to mend us without having it affect the team."
"You not being there is already affecting the team." He countered.
"But you're still functioning without me, cases are being closed which is a good thing. It's good that you can still work efficiently without me being there. I am coming back Steve but we do need to sort out this problem between us before I can." She stated softly, reaching out and resting her hand on his arm.
"What problem though Danni? What is the problem?" He demanded harshly, his hand coming out and covering her own, the palm heated from where it had been wrapped around the mug he was still holding.
"I don't know Steve, I wish I did know what it was but I don't. We're going to have to figure it out together and fix it together but only if you want to. If you don't want me as your partner any more than now is the time to tell me."
Steve shot her a look as though she was mad.
"There is no one else I want as a partner. If you're not there then I'll go solo." He said matter of factly.
"No" She said firmly, using her free hand to jab a finger into his chest. "You do not under any circumstances go solo Steven Jack McGarrett. Promise me that you will always bring one of the others with you when you go and run down leads. If they are all busy and you have no one than you call me and I'll come to you and be your back up. You can't go solo with your bad luck. I don't want to spend my evenings in a hospital visiting you because you wouldn't listen to reason so promise me." She demanded, poking him again.
"I promise" Steve said after a moment, the tension which has been in his shoulders melting away. "I should go, Chin and Kono were out running a lead so they should be back by the time I get to the office" He told her, placing the mug on the coffee table and stood up. Danni stood up with him. "How about you and Gracie come round mine tonight and we have a meal together, you both haven't been round for a while and I miss the pair of you, it will give us time to talk properly as well."
Danni hesitated for a moment before she nodded.
"Okay then, what time?"
"Seven" he replied promptly. "If anything changes then I'll call you" He promised.
For a moment he stood looking at her before he turned and headed towards the door, pulling it open and exiting out of it without a backward glance leaving Danni alone in her office, wondering whether this was a good idea or whether she was merely setting herself up for more heartache.
Author Note
Thanks for taking the time to read. An especially big thank you if you have left me a review, favourite the story or decided to follow it.
I really appreciate it
