Having fallen asleep Steve awoke an hour later. Danny was still asleep, wrapped around Steve with his head still resting on his shoulder.
Not wanting to wake him Steve carefully unwrapped the limbs that were tangled around then even more carefully and gently moved Danny's head to a pillow. Luckily for him Danny was a deep sleeper, but he thought it best to be safe.
Climbing out of the bed Steve pulled on his underwear, not noticing that the syringe Leader had given him had fallen out of his pocket and was on the floor in plain sight.
Walking out of the room he could faintly hear water running and steam was floating out of the bathroom looking very much like the fog in that horror movie; that's when he remembered that he hadn't turned the shower head off, damn! This was going to cost him a fortune!
Entering the bathroom, having difficulty seeing through the steam, he blindly found his way to the stall, managing to burn his hand from the hotness of the shower knob but he managed.
Opening the window he allowed the steam to filter out, fanning his sweaty face from the intense heat in the room due to the steam. His hand still stung so he went to the sink to run some cold water over it, the steam becoming less thick and easier to see through.
Back in the bedroom Danny awoke, looking to his left to see that his bedmate was gone. Running a hand through his hair he pulled the covers aside and got up, stretching his stiff muscles. Pulling his underwear on Danny walked around the bed, as he turned he what looked to be a medical syringe laying on the floor besides Steve's pants.
Coming closer he confirmed that it was a syringe; kneeling down he picked it up to examine. It was still full and the cap was still on. The first question to enter his mind was what it was doing in the house and lastly what Steve was planning on doing with it.
Grasping the item he left the bedroom and went towards the sound of running water, intending on confronting Steve with his finding.
Steve was still cooling down his hand, the limb almost numb from the freezing water, a sign that he should turn the water off. Doing just that he dried his hands and turned the water off. Doing just that he dried his hands and turned to face Danny, having felt a new presence in the room.
"I'm going to ask you something and I want you to completely honest with me" Danny gripped the syringe, nervous to find out if his suspicions of Steve possibly taking drugs but he had to know so that if he was he could get him the help he needed.
The serious change in atmosphere made Steve uneasy, whatever Danny was about to ask him he had a feeling it would affect their relationship greatly.
"Okay" Steve consented, his palms starting to sweat. He felt like he was in the interrogation room suspected of murder.
Holding up his hand he uncurled his fingers and displayed the syringe, as if it were an offering.
"I found this on the floor next to your pants, I want you to tell me what's in it and why you have it" he was trying to keep his voice strong and steady but the implications of what this could contain weakened his composure.
Steve's throat dried up like sandpaper and his eyes gave away his guilt. He opened and closed his mouth, the words that he wanted to say getting lodged in his throat, choking him.
"Is it drugs Steven? While you were being held captive did they get you hooked on something? Because if that's the case I want you to know that I love you and I'll get you help" he was rambling now but when Steve was involved his emotions always got the best of him.
Finally finding the courage to speak Steve vehemently shook his head, while lying and saying that it was would be the easiest escape goat he didn't want Danny to believe that he was an addict.
"No Danny, I don't need drugs to make me happy, all I need is you. I wouldn't risk losing you or the job I love for a high" Steve stepped towards him but stopped when they were at arm's length.
"Then what is it Steve? I don't recall the doctor giving you any medication that came in shot form"
This was the moment that he had dreaded, he could come up with an elaborate story and feel guilt's mocking whisper or he could tell Danny the truth and pray that he wouldn't leave him, because that would kill him.
While lying was tempting finally telling Danny would take so much weight off his shoulders. For now he would give him a half truth, with some details deleted or altered for Danny's safety.
"An old acquaintance of mine came by the house today, intending to cash in a favor from a while back. He told me that there was a certain person in the Hawaii Correctional Facility that he wanted to take care of...permanently so he gave me a shot full of poison to kill him with" wow, guess it was more than just a partial truth.
Danny was speechless, that was the last response that he had expected to hear. Finding his voice he spoke, "so let me get this straight, an old 'acquaintance' of yours came by and basically asked you to kill someone as payback for a past favor?, am I getting this right?" this was a rhetorical question but when Steve didn't immediately answer and a guilty look was on his face. Danny flipped his lid.
"Are you fucking insane? You are an officer of the law Steven! You're supposed to put the bad guys away not become one, just by you telling me this you've made me an accomplice-"
"I didn't tell you anything Danny, you came up with that yourself!'
"Doesn't matter, and for one you sure as hell haven't told me otherwise! I should be arresting you for conspiracy to commit murder but my stupid love for you has clouded my better judgments and instead I'm still standing here listening to you" his arms flapped around and his brow was pinched.
Steve tried to grab his arms but Danny resisted and stormed out of the room and back to the bedroom, shower now forgotten Steve went after him, wanting to explain.
Entering the bedroom he found Danny pulling his pants on, "Danny, I know this sounds crazy and stupid but I'm doing this for you, I don't have a choice"
Moving onto his shirt he retorted "so by killing, your protecting me? What guess what Steven, in case you haven't noticed I'm a Detective! I carry a gun and I know how to protect myself; you don't have to play the knight in shining armor"
With his short now buttoned up he quickly slipped into his shoes and brushed pass Steve, "just leave me alone Steve okay? Because I'm afraid that if I stick around much longer I'm going to do something we'll both regret" descending the stairs, Steve hot on his trail he headed for the door, not willing to just let him out.
As Danny was moving to open the door Steve grabbed his hand, freezing Danny and causing him to close his eyes in emotional pain, "please Steve, let me go, we both need a little time on our own, me to contemplate my love life and you to get this crazy idea out of your head!"
His words stung, he didn't want time apart but he also didn't want Danny to think of him as a psychotic nut job, that is why he found himself letting go, allowing Danny walk away from him.
Now alone in his house Steve never felt more alone than he did at this very moment. It would be ridiculous for him to believe that Danny wouldn't have an adverse reaction but he had stupidly hoped that he wouldn't leave him.
Deciding that staying inside mourning his crumbling relationship was a waste of time he trudged upstairs to change into his board shorts and walked out of his private beach.
The feeling of the slight wind kissing his face and the smell of the ocean used to bring him comfort but with his heart having just been torn to pieces it didn't give him the same relief.
Walking off the lanai he padded across the sand and entered the water, going deeper into the water he dived in and swam underwater for a few minutes before resurfacing.
"You fucked up didn't you Steve?" shouted a voice from shore.
Turning his body he saw his sister gesturing for him to come ashore. Sighing he paddled back and accepted the towel that she held out for him.
"I don't know what you're talking about" he walked past her and headed back to his house, he didn't have to turn around to know that she was following him.
"Don't give me that bull, I saw Danny walking out of here with lightning practically shooting down around him. What happened?" she leaned against the counter as Steve opened the fridge and got a water bottle out.
Even with the water bottle obtained he didn't shut the door, he braced his hand on the top of the fridge and closed his eyes as the cool air fanned his face.
Growing agitated that he wasn't responding she walked around and pushed him away from the door, slamming it shut with her foot.
"Tell me what the hell happened between you and Danny now or I'll start singing the Macarena" she threatened, she could do this too because he recalled another argument they had and she had made the same threat, needless to say she had proven her point.
Throwing his hands up in surrender he shook her off, "all right, just never mention that song again!"
she crossed her heart and waited for him to tell her.
"We had a fight about a debt that our malevolent Leader came here to collect personally"
At the mention of 'him' her face considerably paled and she lost the attitude that she had had moments ago.
"What did he ask of you Steve?"
He could tell her, he had to tell her, she was one of the few people that would understand his reasons for agreeing to the job.
"Do you remember Johnny? Dana's little brother?" he turned to gauge her reaction, when she saw her nod in the affirmative he continued.
"Johnny got himself thrown in jail for drunken battery and assault, Leader has grown tired of having to deal with him and fears that he may slip up and expose the entire clan so he wants me to kill him"
When all he received was silence he turned to see that his sister looked horror stricken. Shaking herself out of her shock she turned to the fridge, opened it and pulled out a long board, uncapping the cap and taking a long pull from it.
Coming up for air she set the bottle down and took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking,
"And you agreed to this?" she asked in disbelief, wondering if her brother had lost her mind.
"What choice did I have Mary? He threatened to kill Danny! I would do the same for you and everyone else that we care about" he desperately wanted her to understanding his reasoning, he needed to have someone on his side and if not her than who? Sarai was a possibility but he had hoped that his own sister would trust him.
Mary took a step towards him and hesitated a moment before wrapping her arms around him, "I know you would do anything to protect the people you love but what happens after you kill him? They're going to do an investigation and when they see that you were the last person to visit him they're going to question you?"
Steve pulled away but kept contact with her, "I'll deal with that when the time comes, and if they do find out the real cause of death and connect it to me then I'll accept my punishment"
Looking up at him she looked deep into his eyes, "I know I can't stop you, I learned as much growing up with you, but just promise me that you'll be careful"
"I promise, but if things go south-"
"Steve-"
"No, Mary listen to me, if things go south I want you to promise me that you'll leave the island, Leader and his men might decide to retaliate for my failure and if I'm in jail I won't be able to help you. Please, your safety is the only one at this point that I have any chance of keeping, I need you to do this for me" wherever her eyes went his followed, not willing to relinquish his hold until she promised him.
"Fine, I'll leave the island but I'm not packing or making any plans until I see your face on the local news" kissing him on the cheek Mary fled the house, her pace not slowing until she was in her car and speeding away.
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Having taking his shower to get the saltwater off of him he entered his bedroom to change into a fresh pair of clothes. As he walked to the dresser his eyes landed on the syringe that lay atop it.
Pausing, his hand hovered over the syringe, reeling his hand back he used more force than necessary to pull the first drawer open and retriever a pair of boxer briefs, slipping them on under the towel he then dropped the towel and bent down to pull the drawer where his cargoes were.
Once in his cargoes he walked over to his closet and pulled out his navy blue button-up shirt. Slipping the shirt on he was moving to button the shirt up when his cell phone rang.
Walking over to his bed he picked the phone up and saw that it was an unknown number. Quizzically he answered,
"Hello?"
"Plans have changed Steven, I want you to take care of the problem today, and I want it done by sunset. Fail to complete the task and I will go through with the consequence we discussed" before Steve could get another word in the call ended.
Stunned Steve lowered the phone and shoved the device into his pocket.
To say he expected this would be a lie, he should have suspected something like this, Leader just loved to fuck with him!
Seeing the time on his alarm clock he saw that it was nearing 2, before he could talk himself out of it he snatched the syringe off of the dresser, went down the stairs to get his badge and wallet off the kitchen counter then went out of his truck to drive to HCF.
It didn't take nearly as long as he thought it would to reach the facility and soon he found himself in the facility, being frisked by a guard to make sure that he didn't have any objects on him that an inmate could use as a weapon. Before entering the building Steve had slipped the syringe behind his belt, not having enough time to come up with a better hiding place.
He managed to get through security without them finding the syringe and he found himself sitting in the visitor's room.
Hearing the door creak open he looked to watch as Johnny was led over to him with an armed guard, "you got 10 minutes" the guard left, as protocol two armed guards were stationed in the room. Their presence couldn't be helped but it also wouldn't hinder his mission.
"You got yourself locked up again huh Johnny? I'm not surprised, you always were a hothead" Steve smirked when a low growl came from Johnny.
"What the fuck do you want McGarrett?" Johnny glowered, crossing his arms.
"I just wanted to see how prison life was treating you, from that black eye I'd say you're on your way to being someone's bitch" he laughed when Johnny angrily rose from his chair but was forced to sit back down at a warning from a guard.
"Oh don't worry about me, the next guy to fuck with me isn't going to have enough mental capacity to function" his smile was filled with evil intent.
Looking at the clock behind Johnny he saw that he only had five minutes left, it was time he wrapped this lovely reunion up.
Rising Steve walked around the table so that he was standing in front of Johnny, "this has been a wonderful talk but I have to be going" with a glance at the guards Steve secretly pulled the syringe out of his pocket and quickly, before Johnny could comprehend what was happening stab the needle into his neck.
The injection was so quick that Johnny merely passed it off as a mosquito.
"I'm all done here" not giving Johnny a further glance Steve left the room to hand in his visitor's pass, as he walked away he was terrified to find that he felt no remorse for what he had done, it was no secret that he despised Johnny but the memory of killing him would stay with him for the rest of his life.
As he was walking towards his truck he could hear shouting coming from inside the facility and he knew without a doubt that the poison had taken affect. Not wanting to put suspicion on himself he kept the same calm appearance as he climbed into his truck and drove off the facility grounds.
When he was about a mile away from the facility he stopped his truck and got out, he was standing on the side of the road. Digging the now empty syringe out of his pocket he chucked the object into the large forested area below him.
His phone ringing he pulled the phone out of his pocket, taking the call without checking to see who it was.
"Good work Steve, John's body is in autopsy as we speak and my sources tell me that the cause of death will be recorded as a fatal heart attack"
"I'm so happy for you, now that my debt has been paid I want you to swear to me that you will never approach, harm, think or speak of Danny ever again, if you do I will hunt you down and I will kill you"
Leader laughed at his threat but agreed, "I swear, though I think your threat on thinking of him is a little exaggerated"
"Just do as you swore and we'll have no further need to see or communicate with each other" this time Steve was the first to hang up.
Pocketing the phone Steve took a moment to take in the sight below him.
He had killed a man, but this time it wasn't due to self defense or orders from the navy.
Having the sudden desire to numb his rampant thoughts he got back into his truck and headed for the nearest bar.
A/N: I'm sorry it's so short and took so long to update but I really wanted to get this chapter up and I lost my muse for a while but it's back and I hope you like this chapter. Please review!
